compassion wherin she forgat not by degrées vehement and inducing to solicit a negociation of accord by vertue whereof hauing a little after deliuered don Hugo de Moncado shée sent him to the emperour to offer him that hir sonne should renounce and disclaime from all rights of the kingdome of Naples and the estate of Millan with contentment to refer to the censure and arbitration line 60 of the law the titles and rights of Burgundie which if it apperteined to the emperour he should acknowledge it for the dowrie of his sister that he should render to monsieur Burbon his estate togither with his moouablâ—◠〈◊〉 which were of great valour and also the â—ruits and â—â—â—enues which had beene leuied by the commissioners 〈◊〉 out of the regall chamber that he should giue to him his sister in mariage and deliuer vp to him Prouence if iudgement of the interest and right were made of his side And for the more facilitie and spéedie passage of this negociation rather than for anie desire she had to nourish hir inclination to the warre she dispatched immediatlie ambassadours into Italie to recommend to the pope and the Uenetians the safetie of hir sonne To whome she offered that if for their proper securitie they would contract with hir and raise armes against the emperour she would for hir particular aduance fiue hundred lances togither with a great contribution of monie But amid these trauels and astonishments the principall desire as well of hir as of the whole realme of France was to appease and assure the mind of the king of England iudging trulie that if they could reduce him to amitie and reconcilement the crowne of France should remaine without quarrell or molestation Where if he on the one side and the emperour on the other should rise in one ioint force hauing concurrent with them the person of the duke of Burbon and manie other opportunities and occasions it could not be but all things would be full of difficulties and dangers Of this the ladie regent began to discerne manie tokens and apparances of good hope for notwithstanding the king of England immediatlie after the first reapports of the victorie had not onelie expressed great tokens of gladnesse and reioising but also published that he would in person passe into France and withall had sent ambassadours to the emperour to solicit and treat of the moouing of warre iointlie togither yet procéeding in deed with more mildnesse than was expected of so furious shewes and tokens he dispatched a messenger to the ladie regent to send to him an expresse ambassadour which accordinglie was accomplished and that with fulnesse of authoritie and commission such as brought with it also all sorts of submissions implorations which she thought apt to reduce to appeasement the mind of that king so highlie displeased He reposed himselfe altogither vpon the will and counsell of the cardinall of Yorke who séemed to restreine the king and his thoughts to this principall end that bearing such a hand vpon the controuersies and quarrels that ran betwéene other princes all the world might acknowledge to depend vpon him and his authoritie the resolution and expectation of all affaires And for this cause he offered to the emperour at the same time to descend into France with a puissant armie both to giue perfection vnto the aliance concluded betwéene them before and also to remooue all scruple and gelousie he offered presentlie to consigne vnto him his daughter who was not as yet in an age and disposition able for mariage But in these matters were very great difficulties partlie depending vpon himselfe and partlie deriuing from the emperour who now shewed nothing of that readinesse to contract with him which he had vsed before for the king of England demanded almost all the rewards of the victorie as Normandie Guien and Gascoigne with the title of king of France And that the emperour notwithstanding the inequalitie of the conditions should passe likewise into France and communicate equallie in the expenses and dangers The inequalitie of these demands troubled not a little the emperour to whome they were by so much the more grieuous by how much he remembred that in the yeares next before he had alwaies deferred to make warre euen in the greatest dangers of the French king So that he persuaded himselfe that he should not be able to make anie foundation vpon that confederation And standing in a state no lesse impouerished for monie and treasure than made wearie with labours and perils he hoped to draw more commodities from the French king by the meane of peace than by the violence of armes and warres speciallie ioining with the king of England Besides he made not that accompt which he was woont to doo of the mariage of his daughter both for hir minoritie in age and also for the dowrie for the which he should stand accomptable for so much as the emperour had receiued by waie of loane of the king of England he séemed by manie tokens in nature to nourish a woonderfull desire to haue children and by the necessitie of his condition he was caried with great couetousnesse of moniâ— vpon which two reasons he tooke a great desire to marie the sister of the house of Portugall which was both in an age able for mariage and with whome he hoped to receiue a plentifull line 10 portion in gold and treasure besides the liberalities of his owne people offered by waie of beneuolence in case the mariage went forward such was their desire to haue a quéene of the same nation and language and of hope to procreat children For these causes the negociation became euerie daie more hard and desperat betwéene both those princes wherein was also concurrent the ordinarie inclination of the cardinall of Yorke towards the French king togither with the open complaints he line 20 made of the emperour as well for the interests and respects of his king as for the small reputation the emperour began to hold of him He considered that afore the battell of Pauia the emperour neuer sent letters vnto him which were not written with his owne hand and subscribed your sonne and coosine Charles but after the battell he vsed the seruice of secretaries in all the letters he wrote to him infixing nothing of his owne hand but the subscription not with titles of so great reuerence and submission but line 30 onelie with this bare word Charles In this alteration of affection in the emperour the king of England tooke occasion to receiue with gratious words and demonstrations the ambassadour sent by the ladie regent to whome he gaue comfort to hope well in things to come And a little afterward estranging his mind wholie from the affaires which were in negociation betwéene him and the emperour he made a confederation with the ladie regent contracting in the name of hir sonne wherein he would haue inserted line 40 this expresse condition that for the kings ransome and
abroad to get other places into his possession and finallie came to his mother and laie at Wallingford King Stephan in the meane time being strong in the field sought time and place to haue Henrie at sâ—me aduantage who in his yoong yeares as yet not hauing tasted any misfortune he thought would rashlie attempt some vnaduised enterprise ¶ But whereas the realme of England had béene now manie yeares miserablie turmoiled with ciuill warre which the verie heathen haue so detested that they haue exclaimed against it with a kind of irksomnesse as Eheu cicatricum sceleris pudet Fratrúmque quid nos dura refugimus Aetas quid intactum nefasti Linquimus vnde manus iuuentus Metu deorum continuit quibus Pepercit aris iam litui strepunt Iamfulgor armorum fugaces Terret equos equitúmque vultus Wherein besides millians of extremities honest matrones and mens wiues were violated maids and virgins rauished churches spoiled townes and line 10 villages robbed whole flocks and heards of shéepe and beasts destroied wherein the substance of the realme cheeflie consisted and men without number slaine and murthered it pleased the goodnesse of almightie God at length to deliuer the land of these miseries which were notified to all countries round about that sore lamented the same Now whereas king Stephan was the cause of all the troubles in hauing vsurped an other mans rightfull inheritance it pleased God to mooue his hart at line 20 length to desire peace which he had euer before abhorred The cause that mooued him chéefelie to change his former purpose was for that his sonne Eustace by speedie death was taken out of this world as before you haue heard which losse séemed great not onelie to the father but also to all those lords and others which had alwaies taken his part bicause he was a yoong man so well liked of all men that he was iudged to be borne to much honour But his wife Constance tooke his death verie sorowfullie and the more line 30 indeed for that she had no issue by him wherevpon shortlie after she was sent honourablie home to hir father king Lewes with hir dower and other rich and princelie gifts King Stephan séeing himselfe thus depriued of his onlie sonne vnto whom he minded to leaue the kingdome which he so earnestlie sought to confirme and assure vnto him by warlike endeuor and that againe the French kings aid would not be so readie as heretofore it had béene wherevpon he much staied line 40 now that the bonds of affinitie were abolished he began at length though not immediatlie vpon his sonnes deceasse to withdraw his mind from war and bequeashed it wholie to peace Which alteration being perceiued those Nobles that were glad to sée the state of their countrie quieted did their best to further it chéeflie Theobald archbishop of Canturburie trauelled earnestlie to bring the princes to some agréement now talking with the king now sending to the duke and vsing all means line 50 possible to set them at vnitie The bishop of Winchester also who had caused all the trouble vpon consideration of the great calamities wherewith the land was most miserablie afflicted began to wish an end thereof Wherevpon the lords spirituall and temporall were called togither at Winchester a-about the latter end of Nouember that they with their consents also might confirme whatsoeuer the king and the duke should conclude vpon line 60 Thus was a publike assemblie made in the citie of Winchester whither also duke Henrie came who being ioifullie receiued of the king in the bishops palace they were made freends the king admitting the duke for his sonne and the duke the king for his father insomuch that the agreement which through the carefull sute of the archbishop of Canturburie had beene laboured with such diligence to good effect was now confirmed the cheefe articles whereof were these 1 That king Stephan during his naturall life should remaine king of England and Henrie the empresses sonne should enioy the dukedome of Normandie and be proclaimed heire apparant to succéed in and haue the regiment of England after the deceasse of Stephan 2 That such noble men and other which had held either with the one partie or the other during the time of the ciuill warres should be in no danger for the same but enioy their lands possessions and liuings according to their ancient rights and titles 3 That the king should resume and take into his hands againe all such portions and parcels of inheritance belonging to the crowne as he had giuen away or were otherwise vsurped by any maner of person and that all those possessions which by any intrusion had béene violentlie taken from the right owners since the daies of king Henrie should be restored to them that were rightlie possessed in the same by the daies of the said king 4 That all those castels which contrarie to all reason and good order had béene made and builded by any maner of person in the daies of king Stephan should be ouerthrowne and cast downe which were found to be eleuen hundred and fifteene 5 That the king should reforme all such disorders as warre had brought in to restore farmers to their holdings to repaire decaied buildings to store pastures and leassues with cattell hils with sheepe c. 6 That by his meanes the cleargie might enioy their due quietnesse and not be oppressed with any vniust exactions 7 That he should place shirifes where they had béene accustomed to beare rule with instructions giuen them to deale vprightlie in causes so as offenders might not escape through bribes or any other respect of freendship but that euerie man might receiue according to right and equitie 8 That soldiours should conuert their swords as Esaie saith into culters plough shares their speares into mattocks and so returne from the campe to the plough and that such as were woont to keepe watch in the night season might now sléepe and take their rest without any danger 9 That the husbandman might be set frée from all trouble and vexation by meanes wherof he might follow his tilth and plie his culture 10 That merchant men and occupiers might enioy their trades and occupations to their aduancement 11 That one kind and manner of siluer coine should run through the land c. 12 There was also consideration had of a sonne which king Stephan had named William who though he were verie yoong was yet appointed to sweare fealtie vnto duke Henrie as lawfull heire to the crowne The same William had the citie of Norwich and diuerse other lands assigned him for the maintenance of his estate and that by the consent and agréement of duke Henrie his adopted brother These things being thus concluded at Winchester and the warre that had continued for the space of 17. yeares now ended and fullie pacified the king tooke the duke with him to London dooing to him all the honour he could
prouided readie with lists railed and made so substantiallie as if the same should haue indured for euer The concourse of people that came to London to sée this tried was thought to excéed that of the kings coronation so desirous men were to behold a sight so strange and vnaccustomed The king his nobles and all the people being come togither in the morning of the daie appointed to the place where the lists were set vp the knight being armed and mounted on a faire courser seemelie trapped entered first as appellant staieng till his aduersarie the defendant should come And shortlie after was the esquier called to defend his cause in this forme Thomas Katrington defendant come and appeare to saue the action for which sir Iohn Anneslie knight and appellant hath publikelie and by writing appealed thée He being thus called thrise by an herald at armes at the third call did come armed likewise and riding on a courser trapped with traps imbrodered with his armes at his approching to the lists he alighted from his horsse lest according to the law of armes the constable should haue chalenged the horsse if he had entered within the lists But his shifting nothing auailed him for the horsse after his maister was alighted beside him ran vp downe by the railes now thrusting his head ouer and now both head breast so that the earle of Buckingham bicause he was high constable of England claimed the horsse afterwards swearing that he would haue so much of him as had appeared ouer the railes and so the horsse was adiudged vnto him But now to the matter of the combat for this challenge of the horsse was made after as soone as the esquier was come within the lists the indenture was brought foorth by the marshall and constable which had béene made and sealed before them with consent of the parties in which were conteined the articles exhibited by the knight against the esquier and there the same was read before all the assemblie The esquier whose conscience was thought not to be cleare but rather guiltie and therefore seemed full of troublesome and grudging passions as an offendor alreadie conuinced thought as full well he might Multamiser timeo quia feci multa proteruè went about to make exceptions that his cause by line 10 some means might haue séemed the sounder But the duke of Lancaster hearing him so staie at the matter sware that except according to the conditions of the combat and the law of armes he would admit all things in the indentures comprised that were not made without his owne consent he should as guiltie of the treason foorthwith be had foorth to execution The duke with those words woone great commendation and auoided no small suspicion that had béene conceiued of him as parciall in the esquiers cause line 20 The esquier hearing this said that he durst fight with the knight not onelie in those points but in all other in the world whatsoeuer the same might be for he trusted more to his strength of bodie and fauour of his freends than to the cause which he had taken vpon him to defend He was in déed a mightie man of stature where the knight among those that were of a meane stature was one of the least Freends to the esquier in whom he had great affiance to be borne line 30 â—ut through their assistance were the lords Latimer and Basset with others Before they entered battell they tooke an oth as well the knight as the esquier that the cause in which they were to fight was true and that they delt with no witchcraft nor art magike whereby they might obteine the victorie of their aduersarie nor had about them any herbe or stone or other kind of experiment with which magicians vse to triumph ouer their enimies This oth receiued of either of them and therewith line 40 hauing made their praiers deuoutlie they began the battell first with speares after with swords and lastlie with daggers They fought long till finallie the knight had bereft the esquier of all his weapons and at length the esquier was manfullie ouerthrowne by the knight But as the knight would haue fallen vpon the esquier through sweat that ran downe by his helmet his sight was hindered so that thinking to fall vpon the esquier he fell downe sideling himselfe not comming néere to the esquier line 50 who perceiuing what had happened although he was almost ouercome with long fighting made to the knight and threw himselfe vpon him so that manie thought the knight should haue beene ouercome other doubted not but that the knight would recouer his feet againe and get the victorie of his aduersarie The king in the meane time caused it to be proclamed that they should staie and that the knight should be raised vp from the ground and so meant to take vp the matter betwixt them To be short such line 60 were sent as should take vp the esquier but comming to the knight he besought them that it might please the king to permit them to lie still for he thanked God he was well and mistrusted not to obteine the victorie if the esquier might be laid vpon him in manner as he was earst Finallie when it would not be so granted he was contented to be raised vp and was no sooner set on his féet but he cheerfullie went to the king without anie mans helpe where the esquier could neither stand nor go without the helpe of two men to hold him vp and therefore was set in his chaire to take his ease to see if he might recouer his strength The knight at his comming before the king besought him his nobles to grant him so much that he might be eftsoones laid on the ground as before and the esquier to be laid aloft vpon him for the knight perceiued that the esquire through excessiue heat and the weight of his armor did maruellouslie faint so as his spirits were in manner taken from him The king and the nobles perceiuing the knight so couragiouslie to demand to trie the battell foorth to the vttermost offring great summes of monie that so it might be doone decreed that they should be restored againe to the same plight in which they laie when they were raised vp but in the meane time the esquire fainting and falling downe in a swoone fell out of his chaire as one that was like to yéeld vp his last breath presentlie among them Those that stood about him cast wine and water vpon him seeking so to bring him againe but all would not serue till they had plucked off his armor his whole apparell which thing prooued the knight to be vanquisher and the esquier to be vanquished After a little time the esquier began to come to himselfe and lifting vp his eies began to hold vp his head and to cast a ghostlie looke on euerie one about him which when it was reported to the knight he commeth to him armed as
strange on the other part speciallie in such kind of misgouerned people for in that spoiling of the dukes house all the iewels plate and other rich line 30 and sumptuous furniture which they there found in great plentie they would not that any man should fare the better by it of a mite but threw all into the fire so to be consumed and such things as the fire could not altogither destroie as plate and iewels they brake and crashed in péeces throwing the same into the Thames One of them hauing thrust a faire siluer peece into his bosome meaning to conueie it awaie was espied of his fellowes who tooke him and cast both him and the péece into the fire saieng they line 40 might not suffer any such thing sith they professed themselues to be zealous of truth and iustice and not théeues nor robbers There were 32 of them that being gotten into the celler of the Sauoie where the dukes wines laie dranke so much of such swéete wine as they found there that they were not able to come foorth but with stones wood that fell downe as the house burned they were closed in so that out they could not get They laie there showting crieng seuen daies line 50 togither and were heard of manie but none came to helpe them and so finallie they perished Now after that these wicked people had thus destroied the duke of Lancasters house and done what they could deuise to his reproch they went to the temple and burnt the men of lawes lodgings with their bookes writings and all that they might lay hand vpon Also the house of saint Iohns by Smithfield they set on fire so that it burned for the space of seuen daies togither On Friday a great number of them estéemed line 60 to 20 thousand went to the manor of Heiburie that belonged vnto the lord of saint Iohns and setting fire on it sought vtterlie to destroie the whole buildings about it They were now diuided into thrée parts one vnder the leading of Iacke Straw tooke in hand to ruinate that house and an other number of them lay on mile end greene and the third companie kept vpon the tower hill and would not suffer anie vittels to be conueied into the tower where the king at that time was lodged and was put in such feare by those rude people that he suffered them to enter into the tower where they sought so narowlie for the lord chancelor that finding him in the chappell they drew him foorth togither with the lord treasuror and on the tower hill without reuerence of their estates and degrees with great noise and fell cries they stroke off their heads There were also beheaded at the same time by those rude people one of the kings seruants that was a sergeant at armes called Iohn Leg who had vsed himselfe somewhat extremelie in gathering vp of the pole monie as by one writer it appeareth Also to make vp the messe they beheaded a Franciscane Frier whom they had taken there at the same time for malice of the duke of Lancaster bicause he was verie familiar with him ¶ Some write that this frier was confessor and other say that he was physician to the king but what soeuer he was the commons chopped off his head to beare the other companie not sparing for anie respect that might be alledged in any of their behalfes On the same day also they beheaded manie others as well Englishmen as Flemings for no cause in the world but onelie to satisfie the crueltie of the commons that then were in their kingdome for it was a sport to them when they gat any one amongst them that was not sworne to them and séemed to mislike of their dooings or if they bare but neuer so little hatred to him streightwaies to plucke of his hood with such a yelling noise as they tooke vp amongst them and immediatlie to come thronging into the stréets and strike off his head Neither had they any regard to sacred places for breaking into the church of the Augustine friers they drew foorth thirteene Flemings and beheaded them in the open streets and out of the parish churches in the citie they tooke foorth seuentéene and likewise stroke off their heads without reuerence either of the church or feare of God But they continuing in their mischéefous purpose shewed their malice speciallie against strangers so that entring into euerie stréet lane and place where they might find them they brake vp their houses murthered them which they found within and spoiled their goods in most outragious manner Likewise they entered into churches as before ye haue heard into abbeies monasteries and other houses namelie of men of law which in semblable sort they ransacked They also brake vp the prisons of newgate and of both the counters destroied the books and set prisoners at libertie and also the sanctuarie-men of saint Martins le grand And so likewise did they at Westminster where they brake open the eschequer and destroied the ancient bookes and other records there dooing what they could to suppresse law and by might to beate downe equitie and right as it is said Tunc ius calcatur violentia cum dominatur They that entered the tower vsed themselues most presumptuouslie and no lesse vnreuerentlie against the princesse of Wales mother to the king for thrusting into hir chamber they offered to kisse hir and swasht downe vpon hir bed putting hir into such feare that she fell into a swoone and being taken vp and recouered was had to the water side and put into a barge conueied to the place called the quéenes wardrobe or the tower riall where she remained all that day and the night following as a woman halfe dead till the king came to recomfort hir It was strange to consider in what feare the lords knights gentlemen stood of the cruell procéedings of those rude base people For where there were six hundred armed men and as manie archers in the tower at that present there was not one that durst gainesaie their dooings Finallie when they had eased their stomachs with the spoiling burning and defacing of sundrie places they became more quiet and the king by the aduise of such as were then about him vpon good deliberation of counsell offered to them pardon and his peace with condition that they should cease from burning and ruinating of houses from killing and murthering of men and depart euerie man to his home without more adoo and there to tarrie for the kings charters confirmatorie of the same pardon The Essexmen were content with this offer as they that were desirous to see their wiues and children being waxen wearie of continuall trauell and paines which they were constreined to take The king went foorth vnto Mile end and there declared vnto the line 10 commons that they should haue charters made to them of his grant to make them all free And further that euerie
of Februarie ¶ The king to purge the North parts of all rebellion and to take order for the punishment of those that were accused to haue succoured and assisted the earle of Northumberland went to Yorke where when manie were condemned and diuerse put to great fines and the countrie brought to quietnesse he caused the abbat of Hailes to be hanged who had béene in armour against him with the foresaid earle In the beginning of March the king sent Edmund Holland earle of Kent with an armie of men imbarked in certeine ships of warre vnto the sea bicause he had knowledge that diuerse rouers were wafting about the coasts of this land and did much hurt When the earle had serched the coasts and could meet with no enimie abrode he was aduertised byespials that the pirats hearing of his comming to sea were withdrawne into Britaine wherefore the said earle intending to be reuenged on them whome he sought directed his course thither and finding that they had laid vp their ships in the hauens so as he could not fight with them by sea he lanched out his boates and with his fierce souldiers tooke land and manfullie assaulted the towne of Briake standing by the sea side They within stoutlie defended themselues dooing their best to repell the Englishmen with throwing darts casting stones and shooting quarels in which conflict the earle receiued a wound in his head so that he died thereof within fiue daies after The Englishmen not dismaied with his death but the more desirous to obteine their purpose continued their assaults till by fine force they entered the towne set it on fire and slue all that made resistance and after for want of a generall to command what should be doone they being pestered with preies and prisoners returned into England ¶ The countesse of Kent that was daughter as yée haue heard to Bernabo viscont lord of Millaine hauing no issue by hir husband was now mooued by the king after hir husbands death to marrie with his bastard brother the earle of Dorset a man verie aged and euill visaged wherevpon she misliking him meant rather to satisfie hir owne fansie and therefore chose for hir husband Henrie Mortimer a goodlie yoong bacheller by whom she had issue a daughter named Anne maried to sir Iohn Awbemond This yeare the next daie after the feast daie of Marie Magdalen in a councell holden at London by the cleargie the doctors of the vniuersities of Cambridge and Oxenford being there with the rest assembled debated the matter whether they ought to withdraw from the pope paiments of monie and their accustomed obedience considering that contrarie to his word and promise so solemnlie made and with an oth confirmed he withdrew himselfe from the place where he according to couenants should haue béene present to aduance an agréement and concord in the church ¶ Upon the euen of the Natiuitie of our ladie there chanced such flouds through abundance of raine as the like had not béene séene afore by anie man then liuing Also about the feast of All saints the cardinall of Burges came into England to informe the king and the cleargie of the inconstant dealing of pope Gregorie in like maner as he had informed the French king and the Frenchmen to the end that he might persuade both these kings which were accounted the chéefe in christendome to put vnto their helping hands that the same pope Gregorie might be induced to obserue and performe that oth which he had receiued so as by the roiall authoritie of those two kings concord might be had in the church The French king as this cardinall alleged following the aduise of the learned men of the vniuersities of Paris Bologna Orleans Tholouse and Montpellier to auoid the danger of fauouring schisme determined to obeie neither the one nor line 10 the other that contended for the papasie vntill peace and concord might be restored in Christes church The king vnderstanding the purpose of the cardinall shewed him what courtesie might be deuised offering to beare his charges so long as it pleased him to remaine in England and promising him to consider aduisedlie of the matter This yeare after the Epiphanie the archbishop of Canturburie called the cleargie of the prouince of Canturburie to a conuocation in Paules church at line 20 London year 1409 to choose sufficient persons that might go vnto the generall councell appointed to be kept at Pisa herevpon were chosen Robert Halom bishop of Salisburie Henrie Chichleie bishop of saint Dauid Thomas Chillingden prior of Christes church in Canturburie The king before this had sent ambassadors vnto pope Gregorie and also to the cardinals to wit sir Iohn Coluill knight and maister Nicholas Rixton clearke with letters signifieng the gréefe he had conceiued for the inconuenience that line 30 fell in the christian common-wealth thorough the schisme and withall putting the pope in remembrance what mischéefe and destruction of people had chanced by the same schisme These and the like matters to vtter what desire he had to haue an vnitie in the church he declared frankelie in his letters directed to the pope so as it might appeare to the world how soberlie and modestlie he sought to induce the pope to procure peace concord in the church ¶ Certeine collections of which letters as I find them in line 40 Thomas Walsingham I haue here set downe in commendation of this king so excellentlie minded An extract of the kings letter to pope Gregorie MOst holie father if the seat apostolicall would vouchsafe by prouidence to consider how great dangers haue inuaded line 50 the whole world vnder the pretext of schisme and speciallie the slaughter of christian people which is of aboue two hundred thousand as it is auouched by the outrage of warres and battell sproong vp in sundrie parts of the world now latelie to the number of thirtie thousand by meanes of the dissention about the bishoprike of Leods betweene two one contending line 60 vnder the authoritie of true pope and the other vnder the title of antipape slaine in a foughten field whereof we make report with greefe trulie the said seat would be pensiue in spirit with due sorow troubled in mind yea at the motion of a good conscience it would rather giue ouer the honour of that apostolicall seat than suffer such detestable deeds further to be committed vnder the cloke of dissimulation taking example of the true and naturall mother which pleading before king Salomon chose rather to part with hir owne child than to see him cut in sunder And although by that new creation of nine cardinals against your oth that we maie vse the words of others made by you wherof a vehement cause of woondering is risen it maie in some sort be supposed as it is likelie that your intent respecteth not anie end of schisme yet farre be it alwaies from the world that your circumspect seat
life c. As for patrimoniall goods sith he had none wherby he ought to haue had regard of his kindred therefore such goods as he had he willed to be distributed among such persons as had well deserued of him and vpon godlie vses He made one Aloisius Priolus a Uenetian his heire and executor of all his goods and chattels as well within England as without in line 30 Spaine Italie Rome Uenice or elsewhere c. And for dilapidations there is no reason saith he whie my successor in the sée of Canturburie shuld demand anie thing because I haue bestowed more than a thousand pounds within these few yéeres in reparing making better such houses as belonged to the said sée since I came to it which was no long time by our computation The ouerséers and defenders of this his last will he made Nicholas archbishop of Yorke chancellor of England Thomas bishop line 40 of Elie his cousine the lord Edward Hastings the kings chamberleine sir Iohn Boxall the queenes secretarie sir Edward Cordall master of the rolles and master Henrie Cole his vicar generall in his spiritualties All these he besought to giue quéene Marie knowledge of this his last will and with all reuerence to beséech hir that what good will and fauor she shewed him in all causes and affaires whiles he was aliue the same she would vouchsafe to exhibit and bestow vpon him being dead and gratiouslie line 50 prouide that all lets and impediments to the execution of this his last will testament might be remooued and vtterlie taken awaie and to euerie one of his ouerséers for their paines taking herein he gaue fiftie pounds a peece by will This testament was subscribed with his owne hand and signed with his owne seale in presence of a number of witnesses there vndernamed All which with the tenor of his said last will at large are remembred by Schardius in epitome rerum gestarum sub Ferdinando imperatore line 60 And thus much of cardinall Poole Upon whose discourse presentlie ended as hath beene doone in the treatise of high constables at the duke of Buckinghams beheadding and of the lord protectors at the duke of Summersets suffering in which two honorable personages those two offices had their end so here we are to infer a collection of English cardinals which order ceased when Reginald Poole died After which treatise ended according to the purposed order and a catalog of writers at the end of this quéenes reigne annexed it remaineth that quéene Elizabeth shew hir selfe in hir triumphs at hir gratious and glorious coronation The cardinals of England collected by Francis Thin in the yeare of our Lord 1585. THis cardinall Poole being the last cardidinall in England and so likelie to be as the state of our present time dooth earnestlie wish dooth here offer occasion to treat of all such Englishmen as haue possessed that honor Which I onelie doo for that I would haue all whatsoeuer monuments of antiquitie preserued least Pereat memoria eorum cum sonitu Wherefore thus I begin Adrian the fourth of that name bishop of Rome called before that time Nicholas Breakespeare being borne in England about saint Albons whome Onuphrius affirmeth to be borne in the towne of Malmesberie in the dominions of saint Albons in the dioces of Bath somewhat like a stranger mistaking the names of places and persons as he often dooth was for the pouertie of his father who after became a moonke in saint Albons not able to be mainteined here at learning Wherevpon he goeth into Prouince to the monasterie of saint Rufus whereof in time he was made a canon and after abbat of that house but in the end misliked of the couent they appealed him to Rome before Eugenius the third then pope who for that time pacifieng the matter betwéene them they did after fall at variance againe and so called him before the pope the second time Eugenius séeing these continuall bralles wearie to heare them and fauoring this Nicholas made them choose an other abbat and appointed Nicholas to the bishoprike of Alba and to the honor of a cardinall sending him legat into Denmarke and Norweie where he remained some yeares But at length returning to Rome after the death of Eugenius and his successor Anastasius this Nicholas was aduanced from a cardinall to a pope and called Adrian the fourth Who died in the fift yeare of Henrie the second king of England in the yeare of Christ 1159. Bosa an Englishman and cardinall was not that Bosa which was bishop of Yorke of whome Beda maketh mention lib. 4. cap. 13. and cap. 23. of his ecclesiasticall historie where he saith that the same Bosa was made bishop of the same see in the yeare of Christ 678. And therefore being long before this Bosa our cardinall could not be the same man as some vnconsideratlie haue stiflie mainteined For this our Bosa was a cardinall deacon and the nephue to pope Adrian the fourth before named and intituted a deacon cardinall of the title of Cosma and Damian in the yeare of Christ 1155 being after made a priest cardinall of the title of saint Prudentian by pope Alexander the third in the yeare of Christ 1163 before which he was chamberleine to the church of Rome being created to the first cardinalship and office of chamberleine by his vncle the said pope Adrian the fourth Robert Curson a man excellentlie learned both in diuine humane letters comming from Rome grew in such estimation that in the end he became a cardinall of whom we find recorded in this sort At the taking of Dameta in Egypt there was with Pelagius the popes legat maister Robert Curson an Englishman a most famous clearke borne of a noble house and cardinall of the church of Rome Stephan Langhton made priest cardinall in the yeare of Christ 1213 and the sixtéenth yeare of pope Innocent the third of the title of saint Chrysogon was archbishop of Canturburie for whose cause and contention betwéene king Iohn and him the realme of England was long interdicted the nobilitie was slaine the king deposed his kingdome made feodarie to Rome and Pandolph the cardinall sent hither to receiue the crowne of K. Iohn This Stephan departed the world in the twelfe yeare of Henrie the third and in the yeare of our redemption 1238. Robert Somercot a cardinall a man well esteemed for his vertue and learning a graue writer and well beloued of all men departed from the vanities of this life in the yeare of our saluation 1241 being line 10 the fiue and twentith yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the third Anchâ—rus citizen and archdeacon of London was made priest cardinall of the title of saint Praxidis by pope Urban the second in the yéere that the world became flesh 1262 and the yeare of the long reigne of king Henrie the third the foure and fortith Robert de Kilwarbie whome Onuphrius
reuerend a prelat as the managing of the princes affaires by him dooth well witnesse and this present age can yet well remember This man being of a mild condition was borne at Hachaford in Richmondshire and as Leland hath left in writing that he heard the base sonne of one Tunstall an ancient gentleman whose ancestors as I haue read came into England with the conquerour attending on him as his barbar for which cause he beareth in his armes thrée combes as a note to posteritie of the originall of his gentrie Which bishop although he is supposed to haue béene base borne as manie noble capteins and other the valiant persons of the world haue béene whereof six hundred examples as hath the prouerbe might be produced yet was he not base in lerning eloquence grauitie and honorable calling both in spirituall temporall affaires both in seruice of the prince and in charge of his church For besides manie other offices that he exercised he was maister of the rols sundrie time ambassador to forreine princes bishop of London and from thence by vertue of Clement the seuenth his bulles to K. Henrie the eight in the yeare 1530 the fiue twentith of March aduanced to the sée of Durham and by the kings letters elected therevnto the yeare before said In the which function he behaued himselfe as the worthinesse of the estate required and as the doctrine of the church in those daies would permit of which I meane not to intreat neither of his fall or rising but will onlie meddle with méere temporall accidents as one that hath not béene accustomed to die his pen in the bloud of mens consciences nor in the opinions of religion Wherefore to omit all such things I saie of this bishop that he was a man singularlie learned as Caius tearmeth him Literaâ—issimus in the Hebrue Gréeke and Latine toongs and did not onelie erect sumptuous buildings for the mind and inward man in furnishing when he was bishop of London a librarie in Cambridge with manie notable both written and printed bookes compiling also manie other bookes aswell of diuinitie as of other sciences wherof at this daie his arithmâ—tike is of great estimation through Europe but did also for the flesh outward man build from the ground a most beautifull porch or gatehouse with a chapell annexed therevnto of faire stone in the castell of Durham withall adding vnto the said castell certeine gates with iron bars and portcullices supported with strong walles line 10 of stone on each part for the more strength against the enimie not forgetting to make a water-conduit for the ease of washing and to serue the other offices in the house on the left side of the entrance into the said castell To which these sumptuous déeds for they are verie heroicall may be added the gatehouse built at Alnewike and the tolboth in the market of Durham all of stone with the rest of the houses of office next vnto the hinder part of the said tolboth which afterward with other great liberalities line 20 he gaue to the citizens of Durham Lastlie at his owne charge he new repared with stoneworke the third part of Tinbridge which his predecessour Thomas Langleie recouered against the manor of Newcastell and which others his predecessors as occasion was offered therefore did from time to time most statelie repare In the end about the latter reigne of Edward the sixt being by Kinian or Ninian Menuile or Menille accused for that he somewhat fauoured the Romane religion line 30 and was not so forward in furthering of the gospell as that time required he was for that cause depriued from his bishoprike from all other ecclesiasticall gouernment and committed to the tower where he remained all the time of K. Edward Afterward by the benefit of quéene Marie in the first yeare of hir reigne he was reinuested into his sée of Durham which he possessed all the time of hir gouernement during which he was not so seuere an executor of the Romane canons against the protestants line 40 as the other bishops of England were But she not continuing long such are the inconstancies of our estates vncerteinties of our troubles he was againe by the noble quéene Elisabeth depriued of his bishoprike after disputation and conference had at Westminster in which he defended the Roman religion in the first yeare of the said Elisabeth about the truth of Christs gospell and was committed to Matthew Parker bishop of Canturburie who vsed him verie honourablie both for the line 50 grauitie learning and age of the said Tunstall But he not long remaining vnder the ward of the said bishop did shortlie after the eightéenth of Nouember in the yeare 1559 depart this life at Lambeth where he first receiued his consecration being a man of such age as that he atteined to the number of fourescore fiue years when he died He was buried in the queere of the church of Lambeth whose funerall sermon was doone by Alexander Nowell then now in the yeare 1586 deane of Poules Who taking this line 60 theame to intreat vpon Blessed are they which die in the Lord did there deliuer such liberall singular commendation of this man for his vertuous life lerning grauitie and good seruice doone to manie princes of England that more could not be said of anie man being spoken trulie Such force hath vertue that we ought to commend it euen in our enimies ouer whose dead carcase in the said church of Lambeth is laid a faire marble in which is ingrauen this epitaph of his deuised by doctor Walter Haddon Anglia Cutbertum Tunstallum â—â—oesta requirit Cuius summa domi laus erat â—tque foris Rhetor arithmeticus iuris consultus aequi Legatúsque fuit denique praesul erat Annorum satur magnorum plenus honorum Vertitur in cineres aureus iste senex This man was as it should appeare in stories full of contumarie and selfe will vntractable he was and of nature rebellious For saith maister Fox in the reigne of king Edward being cast into the tower for his disobedience where he kept his Christmasse thrée yeares togither more worthie of some other place without the tower if it had pleased God otherwise not to haue meant a further plague to this realme by that man Howbeit he was indued with such excellencie of lerning and that of sundrie sutes that of the learned he is noted for a mirror of that age wherein he liued and albeit a papist yet not depriuable of the praise which it pleased God to prouide for him being an enimie vnto the truth perhaps through feare as manie more by those rare and manifold good means wherewith he was adorned Insomuch that Leland a man of a cleare iudgement and great insight to discerne betwéene substantiallie and superficiallie learned comparing this bishop Tunstall with profound Budeus saith as foloweth Qua te nostra canet Tunstalle Britannia laude
THE Third volume of Chronicles beginning at duke William the Norman commonlie called the Conqueror and descending by degrees of yeeres to all the kings and queenes of England in their orderlie successions First compiled by Raphaell Holinshed and by him extended to the yeare 1577. Now newlie recognised augmented and continued with occurrences and accidents of fresh memorie to the yeare 1586. Wherein also are conteined manie matters of singular discourse and rare obseruation fruitfull to such as be studious in antiquities or take pleasure in the grounds of ancient histories With a third table peculiarlie seruing this third volume both of names and matters memorable Historiae placeant nostrates ac peregrinae TO THE Right Honorable and his singular good Lord Sir William Cecill Baron of Burghleygh Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Lord high Treasurer of England Maister of the Courts of Wards and Liueries and one of the Queenes Maiesties priuie Councell COnsidering with my selfe right Honorable and my singular good Lord how redie no doubt manie will be to accuse me of vaine presumption for enterprising to deale in this so weightie a worke and so far aboue my reach to accomplish I haue thought good to aduertise your Honour by what occasion I was first induced to vndertake the same although the cause that moued me thereto hath in part yer this beene signified vnto your good Lordship Whereas therefore that worthie Citizen Reginald Wolfe late Printer to the Queenes Maiestie a man well knowne and beholden to your Honour meant in his life time to publish an vniuersall Cosmographie of the whole world and therwith also certaine particular histories of euery knowne nation amongst other whom he purposed to vse for performance of his intent in that behalfe he procured me to take in hand the collection of those histories and hauing proceeded so far in the same as little wanted to the accomplishment of that long promised worke it pleased God to call him to his mercie after fiue and twentie yeares trauell spent therein so that by his vntimelie deceasse no hope remained to see that performed which we had so long trauelled about Neuerthelesse those whom he put in trust to dispose his things after his departure hence wishing to the benefit of others that some fruit might follow of that whereabout he had imployed so long time willed me to continue mine endeuour for their furtherance in the same Which although I was redie to doo so far as mine abilitie would reach and the rather to answere that trust which the deceassed reposed in me to see it brought to some perfection yet when the volume grew so great as they that were to defraie the charges for the impression were not willing to go through with the whole they resolued first to publish the histories of England Scotland and Ireland with their descriptions which descriptions bicause they were not in such readinesse as those of forren countries they were inforced to vse the helpe of other better able to doo it than my selfe Moreouer the Charts wherein Maister Wolfe spent a great part of his time were not found so complet as we wished and againe vnderstanding of the great charges and notable enterprise of that worthie Gentleman maister Thomas Sackford in procuring the Charts of the seuerall prouinces of this realme to be set foorth we are in hope that in time he will delineate this whole land so perfectlie as shall be comparable or beyond anie delineation heretofore made of anie other region and therefore leaue that to his well deserued praise If any well willer will imitate him in so praiseworthie a worke for the two other regions we will be glad to further his endeuour with all the helpes we may The histories I haue gathered according to my skill and conferred the greatest part with Maister Wolfe in his life time to his liking who procured me so manie helpes to the furtherance thereof that I was loth to omit anie thing that might increase the readers knowledge which causeth the booke to grow so great But receiuing them by parts and at seuerall times as I might get them it may be that hauing had more regard to the matter than the apt penning I haue not so orderlie disposed them as otherwise I ought choosing rather to want order than to defraud the reader of that which for his further vnderstanding might seeme to satisfie his expectation I therefore most humblie beseech your Honour to accept these Chronicles of England vnder your protection and according to your wisedome and accustomed benignitie to beare with my faults the rather bicause you were euer so especiall good Lord to Maister Wolfe to whom I was singularlie beholden and in whose name I humblie present this rude worke vnto you beseeching God that as he hath made you an instrument to aduance his truth so it may please him to increase his good gifts in you to his glorie the furtherance of the Queenes Maiesties seruice and the comfort of all hir faithfull and louing subiects Your Honours most humble to be commanded RAPHAEL HOLINSHED THE PREFACE to the reader IT is dangerous gentle reader to range in so large a field as I haue here vndertaken while so manie sundrie men in diuers things may be able to controll me and manie excellent wits of our countrie as well or better occupied I hope are able herein to surpasse me but seeing the best able doo seeme to neglect it let me though least able craue pardon to put them in mind not to forget their natiue countries praise which is their dutie the incouragement of their woorthie countriemen by elders aduancements and the daunting of the vicious by foure penall examples to which end as I take it chronicles and histories ought cheefelie to be written My labour may shew mine vttermost good will of the more learned I require their further enlargement and of fault-finders dispensation till they be more fullie informed It is too common that the least able are readiest to find fault in matters of least weight and therefore I esteeme the lesse of their carping but humblie beseech the skilfull to supplie my want and to haue care of their dutie and either to amend that wherein I haue failed or be content with this mine endeuour For it may please them to consider that no one can be eie-witnesse to all that is written within our time much lesse to those things which happened in former times and therefore must be content with reports of others Therein I haue beene so carefull that I haue spared no paines or helpe of freends to search out either written or printed ancient authors or to inquire of moderne eie-witnesses for the true setting downe of that which I haue here deliuered but I find such want in writers for the necessarie knowledge of things doone in times past and lacke of meanes to obteine sufficient instructions by reporters of the time present and herewith the worthie exploits of our countriemen so manie that
vltra mare Richardum regem Angliae dominum de morte marchisi inculpent iuro per dominum qui regnat in line 60 aeternum per legem quam tenemus quòd in â—ius mortem nullam culpam habuit Est siquidem causa mortis ipsius marchisi talis Vnus ex fratribus nostris in vnam nauem de Satalei ad partes nostras veniebat tempestas illum fortè ad Tyrum appulit marchisus fecit illum capere occidere magnam pecuniam eius rapuit Nos verò marchiso nuncios nostros misimus mandantes vt pecuniam fratris nostrinobis redderet de morte fratris nostri nobiscum se concordaret noluit Nec non nuncios nostros spreuit mortem fratris nostri super Reginaldum dominum de Sidonis posuit nos tantùm fecimus per amicos nostros quod in veritate scimus quòd ille fecit illum occidere pecuniam rapere Et iterum alium nuncium nostrum nomine Edrisum misimus ad eum quem in mare mergere voluit sed amici nostri illum à Tyro festinanter fecerunt recedere qui ad nos peruenit ista nobis nunciauit Nos quoque ex illa hora marchisum desiderauimus occidere Túncque duos fratres misimus ad Tyrum qui eum apertè ferè coram omni populo Tyri occiderunt Haec ergò fuit causa mortis marchisi benè dicimus vobis in veritate quòd dominus Richardus rex Angliae in hac marchisi morte nullam culpam habuit Et qui propter hoc domino regi Angliae malum fecerunt iniustè fecerunt sine causa Sciatis pro certo quòd nullum hominem huius mundi pro mercede aliqua vel pecunia occidimus nisi priùs nobis malum fecerit Et sciatis quòd has liter as fecimus in domo nostra ad castellum nostrum Messiat in dimidio Septembri anno ab Alexandro 1505. The same in English VEtus de Monte to Lupold duke of Austrich sendeth greeting Where manie kings and princes beyond the seas blame Richard king of England of the marques his death I sweare by the lord that reigneth euerlastinglie and by the law which we hold that he was not in fault for his death For the verie cause of the marques his death was such as followeth One of our brethren in a ship of Satalie came towards our parties and chanced by tempest to be driuen vnto Tyre and the marques caused him to be taken and slaine and tooke a great portion of monie that he had in the ship with him Whervpon we sent our messengers to the marques commanding him to restore vnto vs the monie of our brother and to compound with vs for our said brothers death and he would not Moreouer he also contemned our messengers laid the fault of our brothers death vpon Reginald lord of Sidon and we did so much through our freends that we got full vnderstanding that the marques himselfe caused him to be slaine and tooke his monie And therefore we sent vnto him againe an other messenger named Edrisus whome he would haue drowned in the sea but our freends made such shift that they procured him to depart with speed from Tyre who returned to vs 〈◊〉 signified these things to vs for certeine And from that houre euer after we had a desire to slea the marques and so then we sent two of our brethren vnto Tyre who openlie in a manner in presence of all the people of Tyre slue him This therefore was the verie cause of the death of the marques we say to you in good sooth that the lord Richard king of England in this death of the marques was nothing culpable and they that haue doone anie displeasure vnto the king of England for this cause they haue doone it wrongfullie and without anie iust occasion Know ye for certeine that we doo not vse to kill anie man of this world for anie bribe or for monie except he haue doone to vs some harme afore time And know ye that we haue made these letters in our house at our castell of Messuat in the midst of September in the yeare from Alexander the great 1505. ¶ Thus we see how king Richard was cleared of that crime concerning the marques his death by the tenour of this letter And verelie it is most like that line 10 king Richard would haue béene loth to haue communicated his purpose vnto such a wicked kind of pagans as the Assassini were if he had pretended any such matter but rather would haue sought his reuenge by some other meanes Now therefore to our purpose The newes of the taking of king Richard was anon bruted and blowne ouer all Germanie wherevpon the emperour Henrie the sixt the sonne of Frederike the first year 1193 sent in all hast vnto the duke persuading line 20 him to deliuer the king into his hands being able to susteine and abide the malice of all them that would be offended with the taking and deteining of him prisoner as the pope and others The emperour well vnderstood the wealth and riches of England and therefore hoped to make some good purchase by ransoming the king if he might get him out of the dukes hands The duke perceiuing also the emperours meaning durst not well denie his request and therefore he deliuered the king vnto them that line 30 were sent from the emperour who couenanted to giue vnto the said duke the summe of 6000. pounds of Cullen weight for the hauing of the said king The emperour thus receiuing the king at the hands of the duke of Austrich commanded that he should be committed to close prison and would not doo so much as once speake with him This he did to cause the king vpon an indignation and wearinesse of that maner of life to make speed in offering some large masse of monie for his libertie deliuerance ¶ Thus line 40 we sée how couetousnesse infected the hearts of the mightie and what occasion the emperour and duke did take to inrich themselues by the meanes of the king whome they forced not to impouerish so their owne greedie worme were serued But this hath béene a disease not so generall as ancient according to his words that said Vix ego Saturno quenquam regnante videbam Cuius non animo dulcia lucra forent Here is to be remembred by the waie that about line 50 the same time or somewhat before in the yeare of our Lord 1192. the pope sent two legats namelie Octauian bishop of Hostia and Iordane de Fossa noua into Normandie to reconcile the bishop of Elie and the archbishop of Rouen but comming vnto Gisors they were staied from entring any further into the countrie wherevpon they did interdict the whole duchie of Normandie togither with William Fitz Radulfe lord steward of that countrie bicause he was the man that had so staied them
the kings enimies thorough the intelligence of some of the citizens of line 30 Baâ—on that fauoured not the king wrought so that certeine of his number entred that citie meaning to haue bereft the king of the dominion thereof But other of the citizins namelie those of the meaner sort which fauoured the king made such resistance that the eâ—imies which were entred were apprehended and diuerse of them suffered punishment as they had well deserued After this there chanced a mutinie in the English armie bicause the kings brethren and the bishop of Hereford tooke vpon them to punish line 40 certeine Welshmen for that without commission they had béene abrod to spoile within the French confines Therfore in asmuch as the punishment séemed to exceed the degrée and qualitie of the offense and againe for that the earle of Hereford being constable of the host by inheritance ought to haue had the order of all corrections in cases of such offenses the Englishmen were in mind to haue slaine all the Poicâ—ouins in despite of the kings brethren if the king had not in humble wise sought to haue appeased their line 50 furie The wind continuing this yeare for the space of thrée moneths and od daies northerlie did greatlie hinder the growth and increase of floures and fruits and about the first of Iulie there fell such a storme of haile and raine as the like had not béene seene nor heard of in those daies breaking downe the tiles and other couerings of houses with boughes of trées by the violent aboundance and force of the water and hailestones which continued aboue the space of an line 60 houre powring and beating downe incessantlie After this when the king had remained a whole yeare in Guien he returned homewards through France and comming vnto Charters was honorablie there receiued of Lewes the French king as then latelie returned out of the holie land and from thence he was roiallic by the same king Lewes brought vnto Paris The countesse of Cornewall went ouer with a noble traine of lords gentlemen and others to be present at the méeting of hir two sisters the queenes of England and France so that the roialtie of the assemblie on ech part was great After that king Henrie had continued there for his pleasure certeine daies year 1255 he returned to England landing at Douer in Christmasse weeke This iournie into Gascoigne was verie costlie and to small purpose as writers haue recorded for the kings charges amounted to the summe of 27 hundred thousand pounds and aboue except lands and rents which he gaue vnaduisedlie to those which lâ—ttle deserued but rather sought the hinderance both of him and his realme besides the gift of â—0 thousand marks which he bestowed vpon his halfe brethren by the mothers side not reckoning the lands nor rents neither yet the wards nor the horsses nor iewels which he gaue to them besides being of price inestimable Thus in two iournies which he made the one into Poictou which countrie he lost and the other into Gascoigne which he hardlie preserued he spent more treasure than a wise chapman would haue giuen for them both if they had béene set on sale as Matthew Parâ—â— writeth so that it might be verified in him that is meant by the old prouerbe Qui procul excurrit sed nil mercatur ibidem Sivia longa fuit rediens tristatur hic idem Moreouer to increase the kings vaine charges so it fell out that pope Innocent bearing grudge towards Conrade king of Sicill offered that kingdome as before is partlie touched to Richard duke of Cornewall who refused the offer aswell for other causes as chieflie for that the pope would not agrée to such conditions as earle Richard thought necessarie for his assurance Wherevpon the pope granted that kingdome vnto king Henrie with manie goodlie promises of aid to his furtherance for atteining the possession thereof King Henrie ioifullie receiued that grant and called his sonne Edmund openlie by the name of K. of Sicill and to furnish the pope with monie for the maintenance of his war against Conrade he got togither all such sums as he could make aswell out of his owne coffers and out of the excheker as by borrowing of his brother earle Richard and likewise what he could scrape from the Iewes or otherwise extort by the rapine of the iustices itinerants all which he sent to the pope who not content herwith when he began efâ—sâ—â—ns to want wrote againe to the king for more The king through the instinct of the diuell to answer the popes auarice sent him letters patents obligatorie signed with his roiall seale by which he might take by way of lone such summes of monie as would largelie serue his turne of the merchants Italians willing him not to sticke at the disbursing of treasure nor at the great quantitie of the interest rising vpon the vsurie for he would discharge all and herevnto he bound himselfe vnder paine to forfeit his kingdome and other his heritages The pope consenting herevnto accepted this large offer If he did well herein saith Matthew Paris the Lord the iudge of all iudges iudge it to whom apperteineth the care of all things To conclude much monie was spent for the pope spared not the king of Englands pursse though little good was doone therewith At length Conrade died not without suspicion of poison The pope being aduertised of his death reioised greatlie as he well vttered in plaine words saieng Let vs all that be the children of the Romish church reioise for now two of our greatest enimies are dispatched out of the waie the one a spirituall man that is to saie Robert bishop of Lincolne and the other a laie-man that is Conrade king of Sicill But yet the pope missed of his purpose for Manfred the bastard sonne of the emperour Frederike the second was shortlie after proclaimed king of Sicill and so the second errour was greater than the first About the quindene of Easter there was a parlement holden at London at the which were assembled all the states of the realme in greater number than had béene commonlie seene This parlement was chéefelie called to let them vnderstand the kings necessitie of monie for discharging of his debts and to require them of their aid towards the same But whereas he requested more than was thought stood with reason they would not agrée therevnto but desired that he would confirme and without all cauillation sweare to obserue the liberties which by the charter he had promised to hold Moreouer they required that by the common councell of the realme they line 10 might choose to them the cheefe iustice the chancellour and treasuror but they were answered plainelie by some of the priuie councell that this request would at no hand be granted Furthermore the prelats complained that they were driuen to paie the tenths which they promised conditionallie as it were now by constreint
he required by way of a tallage eight thousand marks of the Iewes charging them on paine of hanging not to deferre that paiment The Iewes sore impouerished with gréeuous and often paiments excused themselues by the popes vsurers and reprooued line 10 plainelie the kings excessiue taking of monie as well of his christian subiects as of them The king on the other side to let it be knowne that he taxed not his people without iust occasion and vpon necessitie that droue him thereto confessed openlie that he was indebted by his bonds obligatorie in thrée hundred thousand marks and againe the yearelie reuenues assigned to his sonne prince Edward arose to the summe of fifteene thousand marks and aboue where the reuenues that belonged vnto the crowne were line 20 greatlie diminished in such wise that without the aid of his subiects he should neuer be able to come out of debt To be short when he had fléeced the Iewes to the quicke he set them to farme vnto his brother earle Richard that he might pull off skin and all but yet considering their pouertie he spared them and neuerthelesse to relieue his brothers necessitie vpon a pawne he lent him an huge masse of monie These shifts did the king vse from time to time not caring with what exactions and impositions he burthened line 30 the inhabitants of his land whereby he procured vnto himselfe the name of an oppressor and couetous scraper But what woonder is it in a king sith Maxima paris hominum morbo iactatur eodem About the same time Lewes the French king sent vnto king Henrie for a present an elephant a beast most strange and woonderfull to the English people sith most seldome or neuer any of that kind had béene séene in England before that time The French queene also sent for a present vnto the king of England line 40 an ewer of pearle like to a peacocke in forme and fashion garnished most richlie with gold siluer and saphires to furnish him foorth in all points of fine and cunning workemanship to the verie resemblance of a liuing peacocke ¶ Manie woonders chanced about this time The sea rose with most high tides riuers were so filled with abundance of water by reason of the great continuall raine that maruellous flouds followed therevpon A comet also appeared and manie high buildings were striken by force of line 50 tempests The death of Walter archbishop of Yorke followed these prodigious wonders who had gouerned that sée the space of fortie yeares After him succeeded one Seuall the 34 archbishop of that citie About the feast of S. Etheldred the ladie Elianor wife of prince Edward the kings son came to London where she was honorablie receiued of the citizens conueied through the citie to S. Iones without Smithfield and there lodged for a season and yer long she remooued to the Sauoy It was not long line 60 after that the king seized the liberties of the citie of London into his hands for certeine monie which the quéene claimed as due to hir of a certeine right to be paid by the citizens so that about the feast of S. Martine in Nouember they gaue vnto the king foure hundred marks and then had their liberties to them againe restored and the kings vnder-treasuror discharged which for the time was made custos or kéeper of the citie About the same time came another legat from the pope namelie one Ruscand a Gascoigne borne to whom with the archb of Canturburie and the bishop of Hereford the pope had granted authoritie to collect and gather the tenths of the spiritualtie within England Scotland and Ireland to the vse of the pope and the king notwithstanding all priuiledges for what cause or vnder what forme of words so euer the same had passed This Ruscand also absolued the king of his vow made to go into the holie land to the end he might go against Manfred king of Sicill He also preached the crosse against the same Manfred promising all those remission of their sins which should go to war against Manfred as well as if they should go into the holie land to warre against Gods enimies there whereat faithfull men much maruelled that he should promise as great méed for the shedding of christian bloud as the bloud of infidels The craftie and slie fetches which were vsed in this season by this Ruscand the bishop of Hereford and other their complices to get monie of the prelats and gouernors of monasteries within this realme were wonderfull verie greeuous to those that felt themselues oppressed therewith and namelie for the debt which the said bishop of Hereford had charged them with they being not priuie to the receipt nor hauing any benefit thereby Ruscand called a councell at London propounded great causes why the prelats ought to aid the pope and so therevpon demanded great summes of monie Amongst other summes he demanded six hundred marks of the house of S. Albons To conclude his demands were estéemed vnreasonable so that the bishops and abbats were in a maruellous perplexitie perceiuing into what miserable state by reason of immoderate exactions the church of England was brought The bishop of London sticked not to saie that he would rather lose his head than consent that the church should be brought to such seruitude as the legat went about to inforce And the bishop of Worcester openlie protested that he would sooner suffer himselfe to be hanged than to sée the church subiect to such oppression by their examples Other also taking a boldnesse vnto them affirmed that they would follow the steps of Thomas sometime archbishop of Canturburie which for the liberties of the church suffered himselfe to haue his braines cut out of his head Yet were those prelats euill troubled for the king was against them on the one side and the pope gaping after monie was become their vtter enimie on the other neither were the Noble men much mooued with pitie towards the church their mother as the terme then went now thus in miserie Finallie the prelats appealed from Ruscand vnto the popes presence and would not obeie the wilfull and violent oppressions of the same Ruscand so that much adoo there was and a great complaint made to the king by Ruscand of the stubborne disobedience of the prelats and namelie of the bishop of London The king was in a great chafe with him and threatned that he would cause the pope to punish him according to â—hat he well deserued but the bishop answered thereto Let the pope and king saith he which are stronger than I am take from me my bishoprike which by law yet they cannot doo let them take awaie my miter yet an helmet shall remaine This yeare after S. Lukes daie the king assembled a great number of the nobilitie at London and thither came the bishop of Bologna la grasse from the pope bringing with him a
Bruce that onelie stood in his waie it was verie likelie that he should haue found none other to haue raised banner against line 10 him about the quarrell or title to the claime of that realme For as he was a right warlike prince of him selfe so was he furnished with capteins and souldiers answerable to his desire who being able to lead and command them of himselfe had them at length obedient inough to serue him although as partlie yée haue heard some of the peeres shewed themselues at times disobedient and stubborne whom yet in the end he tamed well inough as the earles of Hereford line 20 and Northfolke the which in the thirtith yeare of his reigne resigned their castels and manours into his hands as by the records of the tower it further may appeare Now to follow as in other kings I haue doone heretofore for learned men these I find to haue flourished in this kings daies Henrie de Henna a Carmelite frier Goodwine the chantor of the church of Salisburie Adam de Marisco or Mareis borne in Summersetshire an excellent diuine as he was reputed line 30 in those daies Gregorie Huntington a monke of Ramesey verie expert in the toongs Seuall archbishop of Yorke a man singularlie learned and stout in defending the cause of his cleargie against the pope Haimo de Feuersham Peter Swanington Helias Trickingham Helias de Euesham Radulfe Bocking borne in Sussex Alphredâ— surnamed Anglicus Iames Cisterciensis William of Ware Robert Oxenford Thomas Docking Iohn surnamed Grammaticus Robert Dodeford but the more line 40 part of these are rather to be ascribed vnto the time of Henrie the third the father of this king Edward where these that follow are thought to flourish in the time of king Edwards reigne after the deceasse of his father king Henrie Thomas Spot a chronographer Peter de Ickeham a Kentishman borne as Bale thinketh Iohn Beckton a doctor of both the lawes William Hanaberge a Carmelite frier prouinciall gouernour of his order heere in England Robert Kilwarbie bishop of Canturburie and after made a cardinall and bishop of Portua Glbert surnamed Magnus a moonke of the Cisteaux order Helias Ros Walter Recluse Hugh le Euesham Iohn Euersden a writer of annales whome I haue partlie followed in this kings life William Pagham Henrie Esseborne Iohn de Haida Roger Bacon a Franciscane frier an excellent philosopher and likewise a mathematician Iohn Derlington a dominike frier Iohn Chelmeston Thomas Borstale a Northfolke man borne Gregorie Cairugent a moonke of Glocester a writer of annales Gregorie de Bredlington Thomas Bungey a frier minor borne in Northfolke an excellent mathematician prouinciall ruler of his order heere in England he flourished in the daies of king Edward the first although there were another of the same name that liued in the time of king Edward the third Hugh de Manchester a Dominike frier prouinciall gouernour of his order héere in England Richard Knapwell a Dominike frier Iohn Peckham borne in the dioces of Chichester a Franciscane frier excellentlie learned as by his workes it appeareth he was aduanced by pope Honorius the third to the archbishops sée of Canturburie Thomas de Illey a Suffolke man borne and a white or Carmelite frier in the house of Gippeswich Michaell surnamed Scot but borne in the bishoprike of Durham as Leland saith an excellent physician and likewise verie expert in the mathematicals Hugh de Newcastell a frier minor professed in the same towne Thomas Sutton a blacke frier that is of the order of S. Dominike Iohn Read an historiographer William de la Mare a frier minor Thomas Wicke a chanon of Osney in Oxenford Simon de Gaunt William Hothun prouinciall of the friers Dominiks in England Iohn de Hide a moonke of Winchester Robert Crouch a cordelier or a Franciscane frier Richard Midleton a frier minor Thomas Spirman a blacke frier William Lidlington a doctor of diuinitie and a Carmelite frier in Stanford Iohn Fiberie or Beuer a moonke of Westminster William Makelesfield borne in Cheshire in a market towne whereof he beareth the name a blacke frier by profession and an excellent philosopher Thus farre Edward the first surnamed Longshanks Edward the second the sonne of Edward the first EDward the second of that name the sonne of Edward the first borne at Carnaruan in Wales began his reigne ouer England the seauenth day of Iulie year 1307 in the yeare of our Lord 1307 of the world 5273 of the comming of the Saxons 847 after the conquest 241 about the tenth yeare of Albert emperour of Rome and the two and twentith of the fourth Philip surnamed Le Beau as line 10 then king of France and in the third yeare after that Robert le Bruce had taken vpon him the crowne and gouernement of Scotland His fathers corpse was conueied from Burgh vpon Sands vnto the abbeie of Waltham there to remaine till things were readie for the buriall which was appointed at Westminster Within three daies after when the lord treasurer Walter de Langton bishop of Couentriâ— and Lichfield thorough whose complaint Péers de Gaueston line 20 had beene banished the land was going towards Westminster to make preparation for the same buriall he was vpon commandement from the new king arrested commiâ—ted to prison and after deliuered to the hands of the said Péers being then returned againe into the realme who sent him from castell to castell as a prisoner His lands and tenements were seized to the kings vse but his mooueables were giuen to the foresaid Peers Walter Reignold line 30 that had beene the kings tutor in his childhood was then made lord treasurer and after when the fée of Worcester was void at the kings instance he was by the pope to that bishoprike preferred Also Rafe bishop of London was deposed from the office of lord Chancellour and Iohn Langton bishop of Chichester was therto restored Likewise the barons of the excheker were remooued and other put in their places And Amerie de Ualence earle of Penbroke was discharged of the wardenship of Scotland line 40 and Iohn de Britaine placed in that office whom he also made earle of Richmond But now concerning the demeanour of this new king whose disordered maners brought himselfe and manie others vnto destruction we find that in the beginning of his gouernement though he was of nature giuen to lightnesse yet being restreined with the prudent aduertisements of certeine of his councellors to the end he might shew some likelihood of good proofe be counterfeited a kind of grauitie vertue line 50 and modestie but yet he could not throughlie be so bridled but that foorthwith he began to plaie diuers wanton and light parts at the first indeed not outragiouslie but by little and little and that couertlie For hauing reuoked againe into England his old mate the said Peers de Gaueston he receiued him into most high fauour creating him earle of Cornewall and lord of Man his principall secretarie
moonke thrée shillings foure pence also euery iustice shiriffe knight esquier parson vicar and chapleine were charged after a certeine rate but not any of the commons that line 10 were of the laitie Ye haue heard how sir Iohn Harleston was sent to Chierburg as capteine of that fortresse who issuing abroad on a day with such power as he might take foorth leauing the fortresse furnished came to a place where within a church and in a mill the Frenchmen had laid vp as in storehouses a great quantitie of vittels for prouision which church and mill the Englishmen assaulted so valiantlie that notwithstanding there were within a good number of the enimies that did their best to defend themselues yet at length they line 20 were taken and sir Iohn Harleston with his companie returned with the vittels towards Chierburg but by the way they were incountred by one sir William de Bourds whome the French king had appointed to lie in Mountburg with a strong power of men of war to countergarison Chierburg Herevpon insued a sore conflict and manie an hardie man was beaten to the ground And although it séemed that the Englishmen were ouermatched in number yet they stucke to it manfullie Their capteine line 30 sir Iohn Harleston fighting in the foremost presse was felled and laie on the ground at his enimies féet in great hazard of death The Englishmen neuerthelesse continued their fight till at length sir Geffrie Worslie with a wing of armed footmen with axes came to the rescue for to that end he was left behind of purpose to come to their aid if néed required with whose comming the Frenchmen were so hardlie handled that to conclude they were broken insunder beaten downe and wholie vanquished line 40 there were of them slaine aboue six score and as manie taken prisoners among which number was their chéefe capteine sir William de Bourdes taken and brought to Chierburg with the residue and there put in safe keeping This exploit was atchiued by the Englishmen on saint Martins day in winter in this third yeare of king Richard his reigne But least any ioy should come to the English people in that season without some mixture of gréefe one sir I. Clearke a right valiant knight fellow in line 50 armes with sir Hugh Caluerlie chanced this yeare to lie in garrison in a castell in Britaine where was an hauen diuerse English ships lieng in the same whereof the French gallies being aduertised came thither to set those ships on fire appointing one of their gallies first to attempt the feat and if fortune so would to traine the Englishmen foorth till they should fall into the laps of foure other gallies which they laid as it had béene in ambush Now as the enimies line 60 wished so it came to passe for the Englishmen perceiuing their vessels in danger to be burnt of the enimies ran euerie man aboord to saue the ships and goods within them and amongst the rest sir Iohn Clearke their capteine meaning to take such part as his men did got aboord also and streight falling in pursute of the gallie that withdrew for the purpose aforesaid the Englishmen were shortlie inclosed with the other gallies before they were aware not knowing what shift to make to auoid the present danger Sir Iohn Clearke perceiuing how the case stood laid about him like a giant causing his companie still to draw backe againe whilest he resisting the enimies did shew such proofe of his valiancie that they were mâ—â—h astonished therewith To be short he so manfullie behaued himselfe that the most part of his companie had time to recouer land but when he that had â—hus preserued others shuld leape forth of the ship to saue himselfe he was striken in the thigh with an ax that downe he fell and so came into the enimies hands being not able to recouer that hurt for his thigh was almost quite cut off from the bodie so that he died of that and other hurts presentlie leauing a remembrance behind him of manie worthie acts through his valiancie atchiued to his high praise and great commendation The barke of Yorke was also lost the same time being a proper vessell and now taken suddenlie sanke with all that were aboord in hir both Englishmen and the enimies also that were entered into hir thinking to carrie hir awaie About the same time the duke of Britaine returning into his countrie vnder the conduct of sir Thomas Percie and sir Hugh Caluerlie landed at a hauen not far from saint Malo the fourth day of August being receiued with vnspeakeable ioy of the Britaines as well lords as commons so that the louing harts which they bare towards him might well appeare although the loue which he bare to the king of England had caused his subiects in fauor of France to kéepe him manie yeares foorth of his dukedome as a banished prince but at length they being ouercome with irkesomnesse of his long absence with generall consents sent for him home so that there were but few of the British nobilitie that withdrew their dutifull obedience from him and those were onlie such as firmelie linked in seruice with the French king were loth to forgo such roomes and dignities as vnder him they inioied namelie the constable of France sir Berthram de Cleaquin the lord Clisson the lord de Rohen and the lord Rochfort and certeine others The lord de la Uall amongst other came to him as we find in Thomas Walsingham offering him his seruice as well as the residue At his landing he was likelie to haue lost all such furniture as well of vittels apparell hangings bedding armour and other things which either he or his traine had brought with them For the French gallies espieng their time immediatlie as he and his companie were set on land before the ships in which the said furniture was fraught could enter the hauen which was somewhat streight and narrow came vpon them and had them at such aduantage that if sir Hugh Caluerlie with his archers had not caused the master of his ship euen against his will to returne againe to the rescue the gallies had taken and gone awaie with the other ships but through the manfull prowes of sir Hugh the gallies were repelled the ships saued for according to his woonted valiancie he would not returne till he saw all other in safetie then defending himselfe so well as he might withdrew into the hauen and landed safelie with the residue About the same time was an hainous murther committed in London of a merchant Genowes whom certeine English merchants vpon spite and enuie which they bare towards him caused to be slaine one euening in the stréet before his own gates The cause that mooued the merchants so to procure his death was for that he vndertooke to furnish this land hauing the staple allowed him at Southhampton of all such wares as came foorth of Leuant so plentifullie as
in warlike enterprises The first and principall was sir Hugh Caluerlie an old man of warre and one that in all places had borne himselfe both valiantlie and politikelie next line 40 vnto him was sir William Farington who stoutlie spake in the bishops cause when the matter came in question in the parlement house touching his going ouer with this croâ—sie Besides these there went diuerse noble men and knights of high renowme as the lord Henrie Beaumount sir William Elmham and sir Thomas Triuet sir Iohn Ferrers sir Hugh Spenser the bishops nephue by his brother sir Matthew Redman capteine of Berwike sir Nicholas Tarenson or Traicton sir William Farington and line 50 manie other of the English nation of Gascogne there went le sire de Chasteauneuf and his brother sir Iohn de Chasteauneuf Raimund de Marsen Guillonet de Paux Gariot Uighier Iohn de Cachitan and diuerse other Sir Iohn Beauchampe was appointed marshall of the field but bicause he was at that present in the marches of the realme towards Scotland he was not readie to passe ouer when the bishop did The duke of Lancaster liked not well of the bishops iournie for that he saw how his voiage line 60 that he meant to make into Spaine was hereby for the time disappointed and he could haue béene better contented as appeareth by writers to haue had the monie imploied vpon the warres against the king of Castile that was a Clementine than to haue it bestowed vpon this voiage which the bishop was to take in hand against the French king and other in these néerer parts Herevpon there were not manie of the nobilitie that offered to go with the bishop But to saie somewhat of other things that were concluded in this last parlement we find that the fishmongers which through meanes of the late lord maâ—or Iohn of Northampton and his complices were put from their ancient customes and liberties which they inioied aforetime within the citie were now restored to the same againe sauing that they might not kéepe courts among themselues as in times past they vsed but that after the maner of other crafts and companies all transgressions offenses and breaches of lawes and customes by them committed should be heard tried and reformed in the maiors court ¶ All this winter the matter touching the gathering of monie towards the croisie was earnestlie applied so that there was leuied what of the disme and by the deuotion of the people for obteining of the pardon so much as drew to the summe of fiue and twentie thousand franks When the bishop therefore had set things in good forwardnesse for his iournie he drew towards the sea side and was so desirous to passe ouer and to inuade his aduersaries that although the king sent to him an expresse commandement by letters to returne to the court that he might conferre with him before he tooke the seas yet excusing himselfe that the time would not then permit him to staie longer he passed ouer to Calis where he landed the 23 of Aprill in this sixt yeare of king Richards reigne The armie to attend him in this iournie rose to the number of two thousand horssemen and fifteene thousand footmen as some write though other speake of a far lesser number But it should seeme that they went not ouer all at one time but by parts as some before the bishop some with him and some after him Now when he and the capteins before named were come ouer to Calis they tooke counsell togither into what place they should make their first inuasion and bicause their commission was to make warre onelie against those that held with pope Clement the more part were of this mind that it should be most expedient for them to enter into France and to make warre against the Frenchmen whom all men knew to be chiefe mainteiners of the said Clement But the bishop of Norwich was of this opinion that they could not doo better than to inuade the countrie of Flanders bicause that a litle before earle Lewes hauing intelligence that king Richard had made a confederacie with them of Gaunt had on the other part expelled all Englishmen out of his dominions and countries so that the merchants which had their goods at Bruges and other places in Flanders susteined great losses Howbeit there were that replied against the bishops purpose herein as sir Hugh Caluerlie and others yet at length they yeelded thereto and so by his commandement they went streight to Grauelin the 21 day of Maie and immediatlie wan it by assault Whervpon Bruckburge was yeelded vnto them the liues and goods of them within saued Then went they to Dunkirke without any great resistance entred the towne and wan there excéeding much by the spoile for it was full of riches which the Englishmen pilfered at their pleasure The earle of Flanders lieng at Lisle was aduertised how the Englishmen were thus entered his countrie wherevpon he sent ambassadors vnto the English host to vnderstand why they made him warre that was a right Urbanist The bishop of Norwich for answer declared to them that were sent that he tooke the countrie to apperteine to the French king as he that had of late conquered it whom all the whole world knew to be a Clementine or at the least he was assured that the countrie thereabouts was of the inheritance of the ladie of Bar which likewise was a Clementine and therefore except the people of that countrie would come and ioine with him to go against such as were knowne to be enimies to pope Urbane he would suerlie séeke to destroie them And whereas the earls ambassadors required safe conduct to go into England by Calis to vnderstand the kings pleasure in this mater the bishop would grant them none at all wherefore they went backe againe to the earle their maister with that answer The Englishmen after the taking and spoiling of Dunkirke returned to Grauelin and Bruckburge which places they fortified and then leauing garrisons in them they went to Mardike and tooke it for it was not closed In the meane time the countriemen of west Flanders rose in armour and came line 10 to Dunkirke meaning to resist the Englishmen whereof when the bishop was certified with all spéed he marched thither and comming to the place where the Flemings to the number of more than twelue thousand were ranged without the towne he sent an herald vnto them to know the truth of whether pope they held but the rude people not vnderstanding what apperteined to the law of armes ran vpon the herald at his approching to them and slue him before he could begin to tell his tale The Englishmen herewith inflamed determined line 20 either to reuenge the death of their herald or to die for it and therewith ordered their battels readie to fight and being not aboue fiue thousand fighting men in all the bishop placed himselfe amongst
to the sea of the which 3000 were vnder the conduit of the kings sonne The lord Thomas of Lancaster and the earle of Kent the two and twentith daisof Maie as some write came vpon the coast of Flanders and entring the hauen of Sluis burnt foure great ships which they found there lieng at anchor On the fift daie after their comming into that hauen they went on land thinking to haue fought with the duke of Burgognie But as other write after they had besieged the castell that stood in the mouth of the hauen and loosing thrée score of their men amongst which they name one to beare the title of earle of Penbroke whom they buried for the time in the church of Mude fiue daies after their comming thither they determined to depart from thence perceiuing the castell would not easilie be woone but first they spoiled the countrie about them and burnt Heis fléet otherwise called Condekirke and diuerse other places thereabout This doone they tooke vp the bodie of him whom the Flemish writers call the earle of Penbroke and got them againe to the sea for that they were aduertised how the duke of Burgognie meant to besiege Calis Wherevpon raising their siege thus from line 10 Sluis castell they returned vnto the defense of the towne of Calis so much desired of the French nation As they returned homewards they met with three caricks of Genoa of the which one hauing the wind with hir meant to haue ouerthrowne the ship wherein the lord Thomas of Lancaster was aboord but by the good foresight of the master of the ship that ruled the sterne suddenlie turning the same the violent swaie of that huge vessell comming so vpon them was auoided but yet the caricke stroke off the line 20 nose of the English ship and brused hir on the side Then began the fight verie cruell till the earle of Kent came to the rescue and so finallie after a great â—onflict and bloudie battell betwixt the caricks and English ships the victorie remained with the Englishâ—en who taking the caricks turned their sailes towardâ— Normandie where they arriued and burnt the townâ— of Hoggue Mountburge Berflie saint Petronils 〈◊〉 other to the number of thirtie six passing foorth inâ—â— the countrie without resistance the line 30 space of thirtie â—iles spoiling all that came in their waie This doone â—hey returned and brought the caricks into the chamâ—er at Rie where one of them by misfortune of fire pâ—â—ished to the losse no gaine of either of the parties Iohn duke of Burgognâ—â—â—auing obteined licence to besiege Calis prepared aâ—â—rmie of six thousand men of armes fiftéene hundred â—rosbowes twelue thousand footmen the which being â—â—sembled and all necessarie prouision readie at saint â—mers he was line 40 by the French king countermanded 〈◊〉 not suffered to proceed anie further in that weightie enterprise And this was thought to be partlie the caâ—se of the malice that he conceiued against the duke oâ— Orleance supposing that through him enuieng his gâ—â—rie he was thus disappointed of his purpose Whiâ—â—t such dooings were in hand betwixt the English and French as the besieging of Marke castell by the earle of saint Paule and the sending foorth of the English fléet vnder the gouernance of the lord Thomas line 50 of Lancaster and the earle of Kent the king was minded to haue gone into Wales against the Welsh rebels that vnder their chéefteine Owen Glendouer ceassed not to doo much mischéefe still against the English subiects But at the same time to his further disquieting there was a conspiracie put in practise against him at home by the earle of Northumberland who had conspired with Richard Scroope archbishop of Yorke Thomas Mowbraie earle marshall sonne to Thomas line 60 duke of Norfolke who for the quarrell betwixt him and king Henrie had béene banished as ye haue heard the lords Hastings Fauconbridge Berdolfe and diuerse others It was appointed that they should meet altogither with their whole power vpon Yorke swold at a daie assigned and that the earle of Northumberland should be cheefteine promising to bring with him a great number of Scots The archbishop accompanied with the earle marshall deuised certeine articles of such matters as it was supposed that not onelie the commonaltie of the Realme but also the nobilitie found themselues gréeued with which articles they shewed first vnto such of their adherents as were néere about them after sent them abroad to their fréends further off assuring them that for redresse of such oppressions they would shed the last drop of blood in their bodies if néed were The archbishop not meaning to staie after he saw himselfe accompanied with a great number of men that came flocking to Yorke to take his part in this quarrell foorthwith discouered his enterprise causing the articles aforsaid to be set vp in the publike stréets of the citie of Yorke and vpon the gates of the monasteries that ech man might vnderstand the cause that mooued him to rise in armes against the king the reforming whereof did not yet apperteine vnto him Herevpon knights esquiers gentlemen yeomen and other of the commons as well of the citie townes and countries about being allured either for desire of change or else for desire to see a reformation in such things as were mentioned in the articles assembled togither in great numbers and the archbishop comming foorth amongst them clad in armor incouraged exhorted and by all meanes he could pricked them foorth to take the enterprise in hand and manfullie to continue in their begun purpose promising forgiuenesse of sinnes to all them whose hap it was to die in the quarrell and thus not onelie all the citizens of Yorke but all other in the countries about that were able to beare weapon came to the archbishop and the earle marshall In déed the respect that men had to the archbishop caused them to like the better of the cause since the grauitie of his age his integritie of life and incomparable learning with the reuerend aspect of his amiable personage mooued all men to haue him in no small estimation The king aduertised of these matters meaning to preuent them left his iournie into Wales and marched with all spéed towards the north parts Also Rafe Neuill earle of Westmerland that was not farre off togither with the lord Iohn of Lancaster the kings sonne being informed of this rebellious attempt assembled togither such power as they might make and togither with those which were appointed to attend on the said lord Iohn to defend the borders against the Scots as the lord Henrie Fitzhugh the lord Rafe Eeuers the lord Robert Umfreuill others made forward against the rebels and comming into a plaine within the forrest of Galtree caused their standards to be pitched downe in like sort as the archbishop had pitched his ouer against â—hem being farre stronger in number of people than thâ— other for as
aid them in all iust quarels for recouering of damages doone to their fréends vassals and subiects 4 Fourthlie to helpe and assist them for the concluding and establishing of a firme peace betwixt both the realmes so far as was possible ¶ And further they besought the king of England to send vnto them eight thousand men to aid them against the duke of Burgognie and his complices which dailie procured the French king to make war vpon them séeking by all waies meanes how to destroie them The king of England louinglie interteined the messengers and vpon consideration had of their offers as well for that he detested the shamefull murther of the duke of Orleance which remained vnpunished by support of such as mainteined the duke of Burgognie who as it appeared would keepe promise no longer than serued his owne turne as also for that the same offers seemed to make greatlie both for his honor and profit thought that by the office of a king he was bound in dutie to succour them that cried for iustice and could not haue it and namelie sith in right they were his subiects and vassals he ought to defend them in maintenance of his superioritie and seigniorie Herevpon as duke of Guien he tooke vpon him to succor and defend them against all men as their verie lord and souereigne and so sending awaie the messengers promised to send them aid verie shortlie This feat was not so secretlie wrought but that it was knowne streightwaies in France Wherefore the French kings councell sent the earle of saint Paule downe into Picardie with fiftéene hundred horssemen and a great number of footmen who approching to Guisnes attempted to assault the castell but was repelled and beaten backe so that he retired to the towne of saint Quintines as one that neuer wan gaine at the Englishmens hands but euer departed from them with losse and dishonor In this meane season the French king being led by the duke of Burgognie pursued them that tooke part with the duke of Orleance commonlie called Arminacks and after the winning of diuerse townes he besieged the citie of Burges in Berrie comming before it vpon saturdaie the eleuenth of Iune with a right huge armie Within this citie were the dukes of Berrie and Bourbon the earle of Auxerre the lord Dalbret the archbishops of Sens and Burges the bishops of Paris and Chartres hauing with them fifteene hundred armed men and foure hundred archers and arcubalisters There were with the king at this siege his sonne the duke of Aquitane otherwise called the Dolphin the dukes of Burgognie and Bar and a great number of other earles lords knights and gentlemen so that the citie was besieged euen till within the Faux burges of that side towards Dun le Roie The siege continued till at length through mediation of Philibert de Lignac lord great maister of the Rhodes and the marshall of Sauoie that were both in the kings campe trauelling betwixt the parties there were appointed commissioners on both sides to treat for peace to wit the master of the crosbowes and the seneshall of Heinalt and certeine other for the king and the archbishop of Burges with the lord of Gaucourt others for the Orlientiall side These cōming togither on a fridaie the fifteenth of Iulie in the Dolphins tent vsed the matter with such discretion that they concluded a peace so on the wednesdaie next following the campe brake vp the king returned Whilest these things were a dooing in France the lord Henrie prince of Wales eldest sonne to king Henrie got knowledge that certeine of his fathers seruants were busie to giue informations against him whereby discord might arise betwixt him and his father for they put into the kings head not onelie what euill rule according to the course of youth the prince kept to the offense of manie but also what great resort of people came to his house so that the court was nothing furnished with such a traine as dailie followed the prince These tales brought no line 10 small suspicion into the kings head least his sonne would presume to vsurpe the crowne he being yet aliue through which suspicious gelousie it was perceiued that he fauoured not his sonne as in times past he had doone The Prince sore offended with such persons as by slanderous reports sought not onelie to spot his good name abrode in the realme but to sowe discord also betwixt him and his father wrote his letters into euerie part of the realme to reprooue all such slanderous line 20 deuises of those that sought his discredit And to cleare himselfe the better that the world might vnderstand what wrong he had to be slandered in such wise about the feast of Peter and Paule to wit the nine and twentith daie of Iune he came to the court with such a number of noble men and other his freends that wished him well as the like traine had béene sildome seene repairing to the court at any one time in those daies He was apparelled in a gowne of blew satten full of small oilet holes at euerie line 30 hole the néedle hanging by a silke thred with which it was sewed About his arme he ware an hounds collar set full of SS of gold and the tirets likewise being of the same metall The court was then at Westminster where he being entred into the hall not one of his companie durst once aduance himselfe further than the fire in the same hall notwithstanding they were earnestlie requested by the lords to come higher but they regarding what they had in commandement of the line 40 prince would not presume to doo in any thing contrarie therevnto He himselfe onelie accompanied with those of the kings house was streight admitted to the presence of the king his father who being at that time gréeuouslie diseased yet caused himselfe in his chaire to be borne into his priuie chamber where in the presence of thrée or foure persons in whome he had most confidence he commanded the prince to shew what he had to saie concerning the cause of his comming line 50 The prince knéeling downe before his father said Most redoubted and souereigne lord and father I am at this time come to your presence as your liege man and as your naturall sonne in all things to be at your commandement And where I vnderstand you haue in suspicion my demeanour against your grace you know verie well that if I knew any man within this realme of whome you should stand in feare my duetie were to punish that person thereby to remooue that greefe from your heart Then how much more ought I to suffer death to ease your grace line 60 of that gréefe which you haue of me being your naturall sonne and liege man and to that end I haue this daie made my selfe readie by confession and receiuing of the sacrament And therefore I beseech you most redoubted lord and deare
diuerse credible persons aswell at the time of the kings last parlement holden at Westminster as before and since that my said lord of Glocester purposed him bodilie harme was warned therof and counselled by the said persons and that diuerse times to absteine him from comming to Westminster as my said lord of Winchester declared vnto my said lord of Glocester 6 Item that in the time of the said parlement diuerse persons of low estate of the citie of London in great number assembled on a day vpon the wharfe at the crane of the vinetrée and wished and desired that they had there the person of my lord of Winchester saieng that they would haue throwen him into the Thames to haue taught him to swim with wings Whereof billes and language of slander and threatnings were cast and spoken in the said citie by my said lord the chancellor which caused him to suppose that they that so said and did willed and desired his destruction although they had no cause 7 Item that after the comming to London of sir Rafe Botiller and maister Lewes sent from my lord of Bedford to the rest of the lords of the councell they being informed that my said lord of Glocester did beare displeasure to my said lord of Winchester they came to the said lord of Glocester to his In the second sundaie next before All hallondaie and there opened vnto him that they had knowledge and vnderstanding of the said displeasure praieng him to let them know if he bare such displeasure against my said lord of Winchester and also the causes thereof At the which time as my said lord of Winchester was afterwards informed my said lord of Glocester affirmed that he was heauie toward him and not without causes that peraduenture he would put in writing 8 Item that after the mondaie next before Allhallondaie last past in the night the people of the said citie of London by the commandement of my said lord of Glocester as it was said for what cause my lord the chancellor wist not assembled in the citie armâ—d and arraied and so continued all the night Amongst diuerse of the which the same night by what excitation my said lord the chancellor wist not seditious and heauie language was vsed and in especiall against the person of my lord the chancellor And so the same mondaie at night my said lord of Glocester sent vnto the Ins of court at London charging them of the court dwelling in the same to be with him vpon the morrow at eight of the clocke in their best arraie 9 Item that on the morrow being tuesdaie next following my said lord of Glocester sent earlie vnto the maior and aldermen of the said citie of London to ordeine him to the number of three hundred persons on horsse backe to accompanie him vnto such a place as he disposed him to ride which as it was said was vnto the king to the intent to haue his person and to remoue him from the place that he was in without assent or aduise of the kings councell The which thing was thought vnto my said lord the chancellor that he ought in no wise to haue doone nor had not béene seene so before 10 Item that my said lord the chancellor considering the things aboue said and doubting therefore of perils that might haue insued thereof intending to purueie there against and namelie for his owne suertie and defense according to the law of nature ordeined to let that no force of people should come on the bridge of London towards him by the which he or his might haue béene indangered or noied not intending in any wise bodilie harme vnto my said lord of Glocester nor to any other person but onelie his line 10 owne defense in eschewing the perill abouesaid 11 Item as toward the fourth and fift of the said articles my lord the chancellor answereth that he was euer true to all those that were his souereigne lords and reigned vpon him and that he neuer purposed treason or vntruth against any of their persons and in especiall against the person of our said souereigne lord Henrie the fift The which considering the great wisdome truth and manhood that all men knew in him he would not for the time that line 20 he was king haue set on my said lord the chancellor so great trust as he did if he had found or thought in him such vntruth The which thing my said lord the chancellor offered to declare and shew as it belongeth to a man of his estate to doo requiring thervpon my lord of Bedford and all the lords spirituall and temporall in this parlement that it might be seene that there were iudges conuenient in this case that they would doo him right or else that he might haue leaue of the king by their aduise to go sue his right line 30 before him that ought to be his iudge 12 And as toward the letter sent by my lord of Winchester vnto my lord of Bedford of the which the tenor is before rehearsed of the which my lord of Glocester complained him of the malicious and vntrue purpose of my said lord of Winchester as toward the assembling of the people and gathering of a field in the kings land in troubling thereof and against the kings peace my said lord of Winchester answereth that if his said letters duelie vnderstand line 40 and in such wise as he vnderstood and meant in the writing of them it maie not reasonablie be gathered and taken that my said lord of Winchester intended to gather any field or assemble people in troubling of the kings land and against the kings peace but rather purposed to acquite him to the king in his truth and to kéepe the rest and peace in the kings land and to eschew rebellion disobedience and all trouble For by that that in the beginning of the said letter he calleth my said lord of Bedford his lieuest lord after one line 50 that is the king whome he ought to accept of dutie of his truth the which he hath euer kept and will kéepe 13 Moreouer in the said letter he desireth the comming home of my lord of Bedford for the welfare of the king and of his realmes of England and of France which stand principallie in kéeping of his rest and peace and praieth my said lord of Bedford to spéed his coÌ„ming into England in eschewing of ieopardie of the land and of a field which he dread him might haue followed if he had long taried As toward those words If ye tarie we shall put this land line 60 in aduenture with a field such a brother ye haue here c. My said lord of Winchester saith the sooth is before or he wrote the said letter by the occasion of certeine ordinances made by the maior and aldermen of London against the excessiue taking of masons carpentars tilers plasterers and other labourers for their dailie iournies and approued by the kings deuise and councell there were
the common enimie abroad as by that which followeth you may plainelie perceiue For whilest the French thus triumphed in Normandie thrée cruell enimies among manie as by ciuill warre and sedition insuing appeared sore vrged the vtter ruine of this reame at home One was presumption in gouernance by some that were most vnméet to rule as the queene with hir priuie counsellors and minions then the deadlie malice and pride with insatiable couetise in the states both spirituall and temporall and lastlie the generall grudge of the people for the vniuersall smart that through misgouernment euerie where they suffered who thus forweried with the peise of burthens too heauie for them line 10 anie longer to beare Heerewith perceiuing how through want of prouident wisedome in the gouernour all things went to wracke as well within the realme as without they began to make exclamation against the duke of Suffolke charging him to be the onelie cause of the deliuerie of Aniou and Maine the chéefe procuror of the duke of Glocesters death the verie occasion of the losse of Normandie the swallower vp of the line 20 kings treasure the remoouer of good and vertuous councellours from about the prince and the aduancer of vicious persons and of such as by their dooings shewed themselues apparant aduersaries to the common-wealth The quéene hereat doubting not onelie the dukes destruction but also hir owne confusion caused the parlement before begun at the Blackfriers to be adiourned to Leicester thinking there by force and rigor of law to suppresse and subdue all the malice and line 30 euill will conceiued against the duke hir At which place few of the nobilitie would appeare wherefore it was againe adiourned to Westminster where was a full appearance In the which session the commons of the nether house put vp to the king and the lords manie articles of treason misprision and euill demeanor against the duke of Suffolke the effect whereof with his answers héere insueth Articles proponed by the commons line 40 against the duke of Suffolke line 1 FIrst they alleged that he had traitorouslie excited prouoked and counselled Iohn earle of Dunois bastard of Orleance Bertram lord Presignie William Cosinet enimies to the king and fréends and ambassadours to Charles calling himselfe French king to enter into this realme and to leauie warre line 50 against the king and his people to the intent to destroie the king and his freends and to make Iohn his sonne king of this realme marieng him to Margaret sole heire to Iohn duke of Summerset pretending and declaring hir to be next heire inheritable to the crowne for lacke of issue of the kings bodie lawfullie begotten 2 Item the said duke being of the kings priuie and néere councell allured by great rewards and line 60 faire promises made by the said earle of Dunois caused the king to deliuer and set at libertie Charles duke of Orleance enimie to the king and the kings noble father which deliuerance was prohibited by expresse words in the last will of the kings most victorious father 3 Item that before the departing of the said duke of Orleance the aforenamed duke of Suffolke traitorouslie fast cleauing to Charles called the French king counselled prouoked and intised the said duke of Orleance to mooue the same king to make warre against England both in France and Normandie According to which procurement counsell the said French king hath recouered the whole realme of France and all the duchie of Normandie and taken prisoners the earle of Shrewesburie the lord Fauconbridge and manie other valiant capteins ¶ These thrée articles aforenamed he denied either for fact or thought 4 Further it was alleged that he being ambassadour for the king of England to Charles calling himselfe the French king promised to Reiner king of Sicill and to Charles d'Angiers his brother enimies to the king the release of Aniou with the deliuerance of the countie of Maine and the citie of Maunt or Mans without the knowledge of the other ambassadours with him accompanied Which promise after his returne he caused to be performed to the kings disinheritance and losse irrecouerable and to the strength of his enimies and feeblishment of the duchie of Normandie ¶ To this article he answered that his commission was to conclude and doo all things according to his discretion for the obteining of a peace bicause without deliuerie of those countries he perceiued that the truce could not be obteined he agreed to the release and deliuerance of them 5 Also they had great cause to iudge by the sequele that the said duke being in France in the kings seruice and one of the priuiest of his councell there traitorouslie declared and opened to the capteins and conductors of warre apperteining to the kings enimies the kings counsell purueiance of his armies furniture of his townes all other ordinances whereby the kings enimies instructed aforehand by his traitorous information haue gotten townes and fortresses and the king by that meanes depriued of his inheritance 6 Item the said duke declared to the earle of Dunois to the lord Presignie and William Cosâ—net ambssadours for the French king lieng in London the priuities of the kings councell both for the prouision of further warre and also for the defense of the duchie of Normandie by the disclosing whereof the Frenchmen knowing the king secrets defeated the kings appointments and they obteined their purpose 7 Item that the said duke at such time as the king sent ambassadours to the French king for the intreating of peace traitorouslie before their comming to the French court certified king Charles of their commission authoritie and instructions by reason whereof neither peace nor amitie succéeded and the kings inheritance lost and by his enimies possessed 8 Item the same duke said openlie in the Star-chamber before the lords of the councell that he had as high a place in the councell-house of the French king as he had there and was as well trusted there as here and could remooue from the French king the priuiest man of his councell if he would 9 Item when armies haue béene prepared and souldiers readie waged to passe ouer the sea to deale with the kings enimies the said duke corrupted by rewards of the French king hath restreined staid the said armies to passe anie further 10 Item the said duke being ambassadour for the king comprised not in the league as the kings alies neither the king of Aragon neither the duke of Britaine but suffered them to be comprised on the contrarie part By reason whereof the old amitie of the K. of Aragon is estranged from this realme and the duke of Britaine became enimie to the same Giles his brother the kings sure freend cast in strong prison and there like to end his daies All these obiections he vtterlie denied or faintlie auoided but none fullie excused Diuerse other crimes were laid to his charge as inriching himselfe with the kings goods and
the maior and Londoners in all that he might and so he and other capteins appointed for defense of the citie tooke vpon them in the night to keepe the bridge and would not suffer the Kentishmen once to approch The rebels who neuer soundlie slept for feare of sudden assaults hearing that the bridge was thus kept ran with great hast to open that passage where betwéene both parties was a fierce and cruell fight Matthew Gough perceiuing the rebels to stand to their tackling more manfullie than he thought they would haue doone aduised his companie not to aduance anie further toward Southwarke till the line 10 daie appeared that they might sée where the place of ieopardie rested and so to prouide for the same but this little auailed For the rebels with their multitude draue backe the citizens from the stoops at the bridge foot to the draw bridge began to set fire in diuerse houses Great ruth it was to behold the miserable state wherein some desiring to eschew the fire died vpon their enimies weapon women with children in their armes lept for feare into the riuer other line 20 in a deadlie care how to saue themselues betwéene fire water and sword were in their houses choked and smothered Yet the capteins not sparing fought on the bridge all the night valiantlie but in conclusion the rebels gat the draw bridge and drowned manie and slue Iohn Sutton alderman and Robert Heisand a hardie citizen with manie other beside Matthew Gough a man of great wit and much experience in feats of chiualrie the which in continuall warres had spent his time in seruice of the king and his father line 30 This sore conflict indured in doubtfull wise on the bridge till nine of the clocke in the morning for somtime the Londoners were beaten backe to saint Magnus corner and suddenlie againe the rebels were repelled to the stoops in Southwarke so that both parts being faint and wearie agréed to leaue off from fighting till the next daie vpon condition that neither Londoners should passe into Southwarke nor Kentishmen into London Upon this abstinence line 40 this rakehell capteine for making him more friends brake vp the gailes of the kings Bench and Marshalsie and so were manie mates set at libertie verie méet for his matters in hand The archbishop of Canturburie being chancellor of England and as then for his suertie lieng within the Tower called to him the bishop of Winchester who for some safegard laie then at Haliwell These two prelats séeing the furie of the Kentish people by their late repulse to be somewhat asswaged passed line 50 by the riuer of Thames from the Tower into Southwarke bringing with them vnder the kings great seale a generall pardon vnto all the offendors and caused the same to be openlie published The poore people were so glad of this pardon and so readie to receiue it that without bidding farewell to their capteine they withdrew themselues the same night euerie man towards his home ¶ But Iacke Cade despairing of succours and fearing the reward of his lewd dealings put all his pillage line 60 and goods that he had robbed into a barge and sent it to Rochester by water and himselfe went by land and would haue entred into the castle of Quinborow with a few men that were left about him but he was there let of his purpose wherefore he disguised in strange attire priuilie fled into the wood countrie beside Lewes in Sussex hoping so to scape The capteine his people being thus departed not long after proclamations were made in diuerse places of Kent Sussex and Southerie that whosoeuer could take the foresaid capteine aliue or dead should haue a thousand markes for his trauell A copie of which proclamation touching the apprehension of the said Cade and his complices hereafter followeth A copie of the said writ and proclamation by the king for the taking of the said Cade and his felowship HEnricus Dei gratia rex Angliae Franciae dominus Hiberniae vniuersis singulis custodibus c. For so much as one Iohn Cade borne in Ireland which calleth himselfe Iohn Mortimer in some writing calleth himselfe capteine of Kent the which Iohn Cade the last yeare tofore his dwelling in Sussex with a knight called sir Thomas Dagre slue there a woman with child and for that cause tooke the gréeth of the church and after for that cause forsware the kings land the which Iohn Cade also after this was sworne to the French part and dwelled with them which hath now of late time to the intent to inrich himselfe by robbing and despoiling of the kings liegemen as it is now openlie knowne to bring himselfe to great and high estate falslie and vntruelie deceiued manie of the kings people and vnder colour of holie and good intents made them to assemble with him against the kings regalitie his lawes nought setting by the kings grace and pardons granted not onelie to him but to all the kings subiects the which by his deceit haue assembled with him the which he with great reuerence receiued on mondaie last passed and so did all that were assembled with him Notwithstanding all this he laboureth now of new to assemble the kings people againe and to that intent beareth them on hand that the kings letters of pardon granted to him and them be not auaileable nor of none effect without authoritie of parlement whereas the contrarie is true as it is openlie knowne by that that the king granteth from time to time his charters of pardon to such as him list of all manner of crimes and offenses both generall and speciall The king therefore willeth and commandeth that none of his subiects giue faith nor credence to the said false informations of the said false traitor nor accompanie with him in anie wise nor comfort nor susteine him nor his with vittels nor with anie other things but will whosoeuer of the kings subiects may take him shall take him and that who so euer taketh him and bringeth him quicke or dead to the king or to his councell shall haue a thousand markes for his labour trulie paid him without faile or delaie by the prouision of the kings councell And who so euer taketh anie of those that from this daie foorth accompanie with him shall haue fiue marks for his reward trulie to be paid in maner and forme aboue said And ouer this commanding all constables ministers and officers of the said shire that none of them on paine of death take vpon them to execute anie commandement by word or writing sent or made vnto them by the said Cade calling himselfe Mortimer and capteine be it to reare any people or to any other inten tbut to arest and make so be arested such as take vpon them to bring anie such commandement by writing or by word Et hoc nullatenus omittatis Teste me ipso apud Westm. 10 die Iulij anno
and good will of his chiefe councellors he gaue great pensions amounting to the summe of sixteene thousand crownes a yeere that is to saie to his chancellor to the lord Hastings his chiefe chamberleine a man of no lesse wit than vertue and of great authoritie with his maister and that not without cause for he had as well in time of aduersitie as in the faire flattering world well and trulie serued him and to the lord Howard to sir Thomas Montgomerie to sir Thomas Sentleger to sir Iohn Cheinie maister of the kings horsses to the marques Dorsset sonne to the queene and diuerse other he gaue great and liberall rewards to the intent to keepe himselfe in amitie with England while he wan and obteined his purpose and desire in other places These persons had giuen to them great gifts beside yearelie pensions For Argenton his councellor affirmed of his owne knowledge that the lord Howard had in lesse than the tearme of two yeares for reward in monie and plate foure and twentie thousand crownes at the time of this méeting he gaue to the lord Hastings the kings chiefe chamberleine as the Frenchmen write an hundred markes of siluer made in plate whereof euerie marke is eight ounces sterling But the English writers affirme that he gaue the lord Hastings foure and twentie doozen bolles that is to saie twelue doozen gilt twelue doozen vngilt euerie cup weieng seuentéene nobles which gift either betokened in him a great liberall nature or else a great and especiall confidence that he had reposed in the said lord chamberleine Beside this he gaue him yearelie two thousand crownes pension the which summe he sent to him by Piers Cleret one of the maisters of his house giuing him in charge to receiue of him an acquittance for the receipt of the same pension to the intent that it should appeare in time to come that the chancelor chamberleine admerall maisters of the horsses to the king of England and manie other of his councell had bin in fée and pensionaries of the French king whose yearelie acquittances the lord Hastings onelie excepted remaine of record to be shewed in the chamber of accounts in the palace of Paris When Piers Cleret had paied the pension to the lord Hastings he gentlie demanded of him an acquittance for his discharge Which request when he denied he then onlie asked of him a bill of thrée lines to be directed to the king testifieng the receipt of the pension to the intent that the king your maister should not thinke the pension to be imbeselled The lord Hastings although he knew that Piers demanded nothing but reason answered him Sir this gift commeth onelie of the liberall pleasure of the king his maister and not of my request if it be his determinat will that I shall haue it then put you it into my sléeue and if not I praie you render to him his gift againe for neither he nor you shall haue either letter acquittance or scroll signed with my hand of the receipt of anie pension to the intent to brag another daie that the kings chamberleine of England hath béene pensionarie with the French king shew his acquittance in the chamber of accounts to his dishonor Piers left his monie behind and made relation of all things to his maister which although that he had not his will yet he much more praised the wisdome and policie of the lord Hastings than of the other pensionaries coÌ„manding him yearlie line 10 to be paied without anie discharge demanding When the king of England had receiued his monie and his nobiliâ—ie their rewards he trussed vp his tents laded his baggage and departed towards Calis But yer he came there he remembring the craftie dissimulation and the vntrue dealing of Lewes earle of saint Paule high constable of France intending to declare him to the French king in his verie true likenesse and portrature sent vnto him two letters of credence written by the said line 20 constable with the true report of all such words and messages as had béene to him sent and declared by the said constable and his ambassadours Which letters the French king gladlie receiued and thankefullie accepted as the cheefe instrument to bring the constable to his death which he escaped no long season after such is the end of dissemblers When king Edward was come to Calis and had set all things in an order he tooke ship and sailed with a prosperous wind into England and was roiallie receiued vpon line 30 Blackheath by the maior of London and the magistrates and fiue hundred commoners apparrelled in murrie the eight and twentith daie of September and so conueied through the citie of Westminster where for a while after his long labour he reposed himselfe euerie daie almost talking with the queene his wife of the marriage of his daughter whome he caused to be called Dolphinesse thinking nothing surer than that marriage to take effect according to the treatie The hope of which marriage caused him line 40 to dissemble and doo things which afterward chanced greatlie to the French kings profit smallie to his About the same season the French king to compasse his purpose for the getting of the constable into his hands tooke truce with the duke of Burgognie for nine yeares as a contractor in the league and not comprehended as an other princes alie The king of England aduertised hereof sent ouer sir Thomas Montgomerie to the French king offering line 50 to passe the seas againe the next summer in his aid to make warres on the duke Burgognie so that the French king should paie to him fiftie thousand crownes for the losse which he should susteine in his custome by reason that the woolles at Calis bicause of the warres could haue no vent and also paie halfe the charges and halfe the wages of his souldiers and men of warre The French king thanked the king of England for his gentle offer but he alledged that the truce was alreadie concluded so that he could not line 60 then attempt anie thing against the same without reproch to his honour But the truth was the French king neither loned the sight nor liked the companie of the king of England on that side the sea but when he was here at home he both loued him as his brother and tooke him as his freend Sir Thomas Montgomerie was with plate richlie rewarded and so dispatched There returned with him the lord Howard and sir Iohn Cheinie which were hostages with the French king till the English armie were returned into England King Edward hauing established all things in good order as men might iudge both within his realme and without was yet troubled in his mind for that Henrie the earle of Richmond one of the bloud of king Henrie the sixt was aliue and at libertie in Britaine therefore to attempt eftsoones the mind of Francis duke of Britaine he sent ouer vnto the said duke one
you loue them if ech of you hate other if they were men your faithfulnesse happilie would suffice But childhood must be mainteined by mens authoritie and slipper youth vnderpropped with elder counsell which neither they can haue but ye giue it nor ye giue it if ye gree not For where ech laboureth to breake that the other maketh and for hatred of ech of others person impugneth ech others counsell there must it needs be long yet anie good conclusion go forward And also while either partie laboureth to be cheefe flatterie shall haue more place than plaine and faithfull aduise of which must needs insue the euill bringing vp of the prince whose mind in tender youth infect shall redilie fall to mischeefe and riot and draw downe with his noble relme to ruine But if grace turne him to wisedome which if God send then they that by euill meanes before pleased him best shall after fall furthest out of fauour so that euer at length euill drifts shall draw to nought and good plaine waies prosper Great variance hath there long beene betweene you not alwaie for great causes Sometimes a thing right well intended our misconstruction turneth vnto woorse or a small displeasure doone vs either our owne affection or euill toongs aggreeueth But this wot I well ye neuer had so great cause of hatred as ye haue of loue That we be all men that we be christian men this shall I leaue for preachers to tell you and yet I wot neere whether anie preachers words ought more to mooue you than his that is by by going to the place that they all preach of But this shall I desire you to remember that the one part of you is of my bloud the other of mine alies and ech of you with other either of kinred or affinitie which spirituall kinred of affinitie if the sacraments of Christs church beare that weight with vs that would God they did should no lesse mooue vs to charitie than the respect of fleshlie consanguinitie Our Lord forbid that you loue together the woorse for the selfe cause that you ought to loue the better And yet that happeneth and no where find we so deadlie debate as among them which by nature and law most ought to agree togither Such a pestilent serpent is ambition and desire of vaine glorie and souereigntie which among states where she once entereth creepeth foorth so farre till with diuision and variance she turneth all to mischeefe first longing to be next vnto the best afterward equall with the best at last cheefe and aboue the best Of which immoderat appetite of worship and thereby of debate and dissention what losse what sorow what trouble hath within these few yeares growne in this realme I praie God as well forget as we well remember Which things if I could as well haue foreseene as I haue with my more paine than pleasure prooued by Gods blessed ladie that was euer his oth I would neuer haue woone the courtesie of mens knees with the losse of so manie heads But sithens things passed can not be gaine called much ought we the more beware by what occasion we haue taken so great hurt afore that we eftsoones fall not in that occasion againe Now be those greefs passed and all is God be thanked quiet and likelie right well to prosper in wealthfull peace vnder your coosins my children if God send them life and you loue Of which two things the lesse losse were they by whom though God did his pleasure yet should the realme alwaie find kings and peraduenture as good kings But if you among your selues in a childs reigne fall at debate manie a good man shall perish and happilie he too and ye too yer this land find peace againe Wherfore line 10 in these last words that euer I looke to speake with you I exhort you and require you all for the loue that you haue euer borne to me for the loue that I haue euer borne vnto you for the loue that our Lord beareth to vs all from this time forward all greefs forgotten ech of you loue other Which I verelie trust you will if ye anie thing earthlie regard either God or your line 20 king affinitie or kinred this realme your owne countrie or your owne suertie And therewithall the king no longer induring to sit vp laid him downe on his right side his face towards them and none was there present that could refraine from weeping But the lords recomforting him with as good line 30 words as they could and answering for the time as they thought to stand with his pleasure there in his presence as by their words appeared ech forgaue other and ioined their hands togither when as it after appeared by their deeds their hearts were farre asunder As soone as the king was departed the noble prince his sonne drew toward London which at the time of his deceasse kept his houshold at Ludlow in Wales which countrie being farre off from the law and recourse to iustice was begun to be farre out of line 40 good rule and waren wild robbers and reauers walking at libertie vncorrected And for this occasion the prince was in the life of his father sent thither to the end that the authoritie of his presence should refraine euill disposed persons from the boldnesse of their former outrages To the gouernance and ordering of this yoong prince at his sending thither was there appointed sir Anthonie Wooduile lord Riuers and brother vnto the queene a right honourable man as valiant of line 50 hand as politike in counsell Adioined were there vnto him other of the same partie and in effect euerie one as he was néerest of kin vnto the queene so was he planted next about the prince That drift by the queene not vnwiselie deuised whereby hir bloud might of youth be rooted into the princes fauour the duke of Glocester turned vnto their destruction and vpon that ground set the foundation of all his vnhappie building For whome soeuer he perceiued either at variance with them or bearing himselfe their line 60 fauour he brake vnto them some by mouth some by writing Nay he sent secret messengers saieng that it neither was reason nor in anie wise to be suffered that the yoong king their maister and kinsman should be in the hands and custodie of his moothers kinred sequestred in maner from their companie and attendance of which euerie one ought him as faithfull seruice as they and manie of them farre more honourable part of kin than his moothers side Whose bloud quoth he sauing the kings pleasure was full vnméetelie to be matched with his which now to be as who say remooued from the king and the lesse noble to be left about him is quoth he neither honourable to his maiestie nor to vs and also to his grace no suertie to haue the mightiest of his fréends from him and vnto vs no little ieopardie to suffer our well prooued
not he that would be about to breake line 20 them And in good faith if they were now to begin I would not be he that should be about to make them Yet will I not say naie but that it is a déed of pitie that such men as the sea or their euill debtors haue brought in pouertie should haue some place of libertie to kéepe their bodies out of danger of their cruell creditors And also if the crowne happen as it hath doone to come in question while either part taketh other as line 30 traitors I will well there be some places of refuge for both But as for théeues of which these places be full and which neuer fall from the craft after they once fall thereto it is pitie the sanctuarie should serue them And much more mankillers whome God bad to take from the altar and kill them if their murther were wilfull And where it is otherwise there néed we not the sanctuaries that God appointed in the old law For if either necessitie his owne defense or misfortune draweth him to that déed a pardon serueth line 40 which either the law granteth of course or the king of pitie maie Then looke me now how few sanctuarie men there be whome anie fauourable necessitie compelled to go thither And then sée on the other side what a sort there be commonlie therin of them whom wilfull vnthriftinesse hath brought to naught What a rabble of théues murtherers and malicious heinous traitors and that in two places speciallie the one at the elbow of the citie the other in the verie bowels I dare well auow it weie the good line 50 that they doo with the hurt that commeth of them and ye shall find it much better to lacke both than haue both And this I saie although they were not abused as they now be so long haue be that I feare me euer they will be while men be afraid to set their hands to the mendment as though God S. Peter were the patrones of vngratious liuing Now vnthrifts riot run in debt vpon boldnesse of these places yea and rich men run thither with poore mens goods there they build there they spend bid there line 60 creditors go whistle them Mens wiues run thither with their husbands plate saie they dare not abide with their husbands for beating Théeues bring thither their stollen goods and there liue thereon There deuise they new robberies nightlie they steale out they rob and reaue and kill and come in againe as though those places gaue them not onelie a safegard for the harme they haue doone but a licence also to doo more Howbeit much of this mischiefe if wise men would set their hands to it might be amended with great thanks to God and no breach of the priuilege The residue sith so long ago I wote néere what pope and what prince more pitious than politike hath granted it other men since of a certeine religious feare haue not broken it let vs take a paine therewith and let it a Gods name stand in force as farre foorth as reason will which is not fullie so farre foorth as may serue to let vs of the fetching foorth of this noble man to his honor and wealth out of that place in which he neither is nor can be a sanctuarie man A sanctuarie serueth alwaie to defend the bodie of that man that standeth in danger abroad not of great hurt onlie but also of lawfull hurt for against vnlawfull harmes neuer pope nor king intended to priuilege anie one place for that priuilege hath euerie place Knoweth anie man anie place wherin it is lawfull one man to doo another wrong That no man vnlawfullie take hurt that libertie the king the law and verie nature forbiddeth in euerie place and maketh to that regard for euerie man euerie place a sanctuarie But where a man is by lawfull means in perill there néedeth he the tuition of some speciall priuilege which is the onelie ground and cause of all sanctuaries From which necessitie this noble prince is farre whose loue to his king nature and kinred prooueth whose innocencie to all the world his tender youth prooueth and so sanctuarie as for him neither none he néedeth nor also none can haue Men come not to sanctuarie as they come to baptisme to require it by their godfathers he must aske it himselfe that must haue it and reason sith no man hath cause to haue it but whose conscience of his owne fault maketh him fain néed to require it What will then hath yonder babe which and if he had discretion to require it if néed were I dare say would now be right angrie with them that keepe him there And I would thinke without anie scruple of conscience without anie breach of priuilege to be somewhat more homelie with them that be there sanctuarie men in déed For if one go to sanctuarie with another mans goods whie should not the king leauing his bodie at libertie satisfie the partie of his goods euen within the sanctuarie For neither king nor pope can giue anie place such a priuilege that it shall discharge a man of his debts being able to paie And with that diuerse of the clergie that were present whether they said it for his pleasure or as they thought agréed plainelie that by the law of God and of the church the goods of a sanctuarie man should be deliuered in paiment of his debts and stollen goods to the owner and onlie libertie reserued him to get his liuing with the labor of his hands Uerelie quoth the duke I thinke you say verie truth And what if a mans wife will take sanctuarie bicause she lust to run frō hir husband I would ween if she could alledge none other cause he maie lawfullie without anie displeasure to saint Peter take hir out of saint Peters church by the arme And if no bodie maie be taken out of sanctuarie that saith hée will bide there then if a child will take sanctuarie bicause he feareth to go to schoole his maister must let him alone And as simple as that sample is yet is there lesse reason in our case than in that for therein though it be a childish feare yet is there at the leastwise some feare and herein is there none at all And verelie I haue often heard of sanctuarie men but I neuer heard earst of sanctuarie children And therefore as for the conclusion of my mind who so maie haue deserued to need it if they thinke it for their suertie let them keepe it But he can be no sanctuarie man that neither hath wisdome to desire it nor malice to deserue it whose life or libertie can by no lawfull processe stand in ieopardie And he that taketh one out of sanctuarie to doo him good I saie plainlie that he breaketh no sanctuarie When the duke had doone the temporall men whole and a good part of the spirituall also thinking no hurt earthlie meant toward
treason and also least the delaieng of his execution might haue incouraged other mischiefous persons partners of his conspiracie to gather and assemble themselues togither in making some great commotion for his deliuerance whose hope being now by his well deserued death politikelie repressed all the realme should by Gods grace rest line 60 in good quiet and peace Now was this proclamation made within two houres after that he was beheaded and it was so curiouslie indicted so faire written in parchment in so well a set hand and therewith of it selfe so long a processe that euerie child might well perceiue that it was prepared before For all the time betwéene his death and the proclaming could scant haue sufficed vnto the bare writing alone all had it bene but in paper and scribled foorth in hast at aduenture So that vpon the proclaming thereof one that was schoolemaister of Powles of chance standing by and comparing the shortnesse of the time with the length of the matter said vnto them that stood about him Here is a gaie goodlie cast foule cast awaie for hast And a merchant answered him that it was written by prophesie Now then by and by as it were for anger not for couetise the protector sent into the house of Shores wife for hir husband dwelled not with hir and spoiled hir of all that euer she had aboue the value of two or three thousand markes and sent hir bodie to prison And when he had a while laid vnto hir for the maner sake that she went about to bewitch him and that she was of counsell with the lord chamberleine to destroie him in conclusion when that no colour could fasten vpon these matters then he laid heinouslie to hir charge that thing that hir selfe could not denie and that all the world wist was true and that nathelesse euerie man laughed at to heare it then so suddenlie so highlie taken that shee was naught of hir bodie And for this cause as a goodlie continent prince cleane and faultlesse of himselfe sent out of heauen into this vicious world for the amendment of mens maners he caused the bishop of London to put hir to open penance going before the crosse in procession vpon a sundaie with a taper in hir hand In which she went in countenance and pase demure so womanlie that albeit she were out of all araie saue hir kirtle onelie yet went she so faire and louelie namelie while the woondering of the people cast a comelie rud in hir cheeks of which she before had most misse that hir great shame wan hir much praise among those that were more amorous of hir bodie than curious of hir soule And manie good folks also that hated hir liuing glad were to see sin corrected yet pitied they more hir penance than reioised therin when they considered that the protector procured it more of a corrupt intent than anie vertuous affection This woman was borne in London worshipfullie friended honestlie brought vp and verie well maried sauing somewhat too soone hir husband an honest citizen yoong and godlie of good substance But forsomuch as they were coupled yer she were well ripe she not verie feruentlie loued him for whō she neuer longed which was happilie the thing that the more easilie made hir incline vnto the kings appetite when he required hir Howbeit the respect of his roialtie the hope of gaie apparell ease and other wanton wealth was able soone to pearse a soft tender heart so that she became flexible and pliant to the kings appetite and will being so blinded with the bright glorie of the present courtlie brauerie which shée inioied that she vtterlie forgat how excellent a treasure good name and fame is and of what incomparable swéetnesse euen by the iudgement of him whose match for wisdome the world neuer bred vp saieng Sunt optanda magis purae bona nomina famae Nobilis vnguenti quà m pretiosus odor But when the king had abused hir anon hir husband as he was an honest man and one that could his good not presuming to touch a kings concubine left hir vp to him altogither When the king died the lord chamberleine tooke hir which in the kings daies albeit he was sore inamoured vpon hir yet he forbare hir ether for reuerence or for a certeine friendlie faithfulnesse Proper she was and faire nothing in hir bodie that you would haue changed but if ye would haue wished hir somewhat higher Thus saie they that knew hir in hir youth Albeit some that now sée hir for yet she liueth deem hir neuer to haue béene well visaged whose iudgement seemeth me somewhat like as though men should gesse the beautie of one long before departed by hir scalpe taken out of the charuell house For now is she old leane withered and dried vp nothing left but riuelled skin and hard bone And yet being euen such who so well aduise hir visage might gesse and deuise which parts how filled would make it a faire face Yet delighted not men so much in hir beautie as in hir pleasant behauiour For a proper wit had she and could both read well and write merrie in companie readie and quicke of answer neither mute nor full of bable somtime tawnting without displeasure and not without disport The king would saie that he had thrée concubins which in thrée diuerse properties diuerslie excelled One the merriest line 10 another the wiliest the third the holiest harlot in his realme as one whome no man could get out of the church lightlie to any place but it were to his bed The other two were somewhat greater personages and nathelesse of their humilitie content to be namelesse and to forbeare the praise of those properties but the meriest was this Shores wife in whom the king therefore tooke speciall pleasure For manie he had but hir he loued whose fauour to say the truth for sin it were to beelie the diuell she neuer abused to anie mans hurt but to manie a mans comfort line 20 and reléefe Where the king tooke displeasure shée would mitigate and appease his mind where men were out of fauour she would bring them in his grace For manie that had highlie offended shée obteined pardon Of great forfeitures she gat men remission Finallie in manie weightie sutes she stood manie a man in great stead either for none or verie small rewards and those rather gaie than rich either line 30 that she was content with the déed it selfe well doone or for that she delighted to be sued vnto and to shew what she was able to doo with the king or for that wanton women and wealthie be not alwaies couetous I doubt not some shall thinke this woman too slight a thing to be written of and set among the remembrances of great matters which they shall speciallie thinke that happilie shall estéeme hir onelie by that they now sée hir But me séemeth the chance so much the more worthie line 40 to be
and so deadlie fought as was in that kings daies that dead is God forgiue it his soule In whose time and by whose occasion what about the getting of the garland keeping it leesing and winning againe it line 20 hath cost more English bloud than hath twise the winning of France In which inward war among our selues hath beene so great effusion of the ancient noble bloud of this realme that scarselie the halfe remaineth to the great infeebling of this noble land beside manie a good towne ransacked and spoiled by them that haue beene going to the field or comming from thence line 30 And peace long after not much surer than war So that no time was therein which rich men for their monie and great men for their lands or some other for some feare or some displeasure were not out of perill For whom trusted he that mistrusted his owne brother Whome spared he that killed his owne brother Or who could perfectlie loue him if his owne brother could not line 40 What maner of folke he most fauoured we shall for his honour spare to speake of Howbeit this wote you well all that who so was best bare alwaie least rule more sute was in his daies to Shores wife a vile and an abhominable strumpet than to all the lords in England except vnto those that made hir their proctor Which simple woman was well named honest line 50 till the king for his wanton lust and sinfull affection bereft hir from hir husband a right honest substantiall yoong man among you And in that point which in good faith I am sorie to speake of sauing that it is in vaine to keepe in counsell that thing that all men know the kings greedie appetite was insatiable and euerie where ouer all the realme intollerable line 60 For no woman was there anie where yoong or old rich or poore whome he set his eie vpon in whome he anie thing liked either person or fauour speech pase or countenance but without anie feare of God or respect of his honour murmur or grudge of the world he would importunelie pursue his appetite and haue hir to the great destruction of manie a good woman and great dolor to their husbands and their other freends which being honest people of them selues so much regard the cleannesse of their house the chastitie of their wiues and their children that them were leauer to leese all that they had beside than to haue such a villanie doone them And all were it that with this and other importable dealing the realme was in euerie part annoied yet speciallie yee heere the citizens of this noble citie as well for that amongest you is most plentie of all such things as minister matter to such iniuries as for that you were neerest at hand sith that neere heere abouts was commonlie his most abiding And yet be yee the people whome he had as singular cause well and kindlie to intreat as anie part of his realme not onelie for that the prince by this noble citie as his speciall chamber the speciall well renowmed citie of this realme much honourable fame receiueth among all other nations but also for that yee not without your great cost sundrie perils ieopardies in all his warres bare euen your speciall fauor to his part Which your kind minds borne to the house of Yorke sith he hath nothing worthilie acquited there is of that house that now by Gods grace better shall which thing to shew you is the whole summe and effect of this our present errand It shall not I wot well need that I rehearse you againe that yee haue alreadie heard of him that can better tell it and of whome I am sure yee will better beleeue it And reason is that it so be I am not so proud to looke therefore that yee should reckon my words of as great authoritie as the preachers of the word of God namlie a man so cunning and so wise that no man better woteth what he should saie and thereto so good and vertuous that he would not saie the thing which he wist he should not saie in the pulpit namelie into the which no honest man commeth to lie Which honorable preacher yee well remember substantiallie declared vnto you at Paules crosse on sundaie last passed the right title that the most excellent prince Richard duke of Glocester now protector of this realme hath vnto the crowne and kingdome of the same For as the worshipfull man groundlie made open vnto you the children of king Edward the fourth were neuer lawfullie begotten forsomuch as the king leauing his verie wife dame Elizabeth Lucie was neuer lawfullie maried vnto the queene their mother whose bloud sauing that he set his voluptuous pleasure before his honor was full vnmeetlie to be matched with his and the mingling of whose blouds togither hath beene the effusion of a great part of the noble bloud of this realme Wherby it may well seeme the mariage not well made of which there is so much mischeefe growne For lacke of which lawfull coupling also of other things which the said worshipfull doctor rather signified than fullie explaned which things shall not be spoken for me as the thing wherein euerie man forbereth to say that he knoweth in auoiding displeasure of my noble lord protector bearing as nature requireth a filiall reuerence to the duchesse his mother For these causes I say before remembred that is to wit for lacke of other issue lawfullie of the late noble prince Richard duke of Yorke to whose roiall bloud the crowne of England and of France is by the high authoritie of parlement intailed the right and title of the same is by the iust course of line 10 inheritance according to the cōmon lawes of the land deuolued commen vnto the most excellent prince the lord protector as to the verie lawfullie begotten sonne of the foreremembred noble duke of Yorke Which thing well considered and the great knightlie prowesse pondered with manifold vertues which in his noble person singularlie abound the nobles and line 20 commons also of this realme and speciallie of the north part not willing anie bastard bloud to haue the rule of the land nor the abusions before in the same vsed anie longer to continue haue condescended and fullie determined to make humble petition to the most puissant prince the lord protector that it maie like his grace at our humble request to take vpon him the guiding and line 30 gouernance of this realme to the wealth and increase of the same according to his verie right and iust title Which thing I wote it well he will be loth to take vpon him as he whose wisdome well perceiueth the labor and studie both of mind and bodie that come therewith to whomsoeuer so will occupie the roome as I dare say hee will if he take it Which roome I warne you well is no childs office And that the
vnto none other person anie part disclose that at the last he came foorth of his chamber and yet not downe vnto them but stood aboue in a gallerie ouer them where they might sée him and speake to him as though he would not yet come too néere them till he wist what they ment And thervpon the duke of Buckingham first made humble line 40 petition vnto him on the behalfe of them all that his grace would pardon them and licence them to propose vnto his grace the intent of their comming without his displeasure without which pardon obteined they durst not be bold to mooue him of that matter In which albeit they ment as much honor to his grace as wealth to all the realme beside yet were they not sure how his grace would take it whome they would in no wise offend Then the protector as he was verie gentle of himselfe and also longed sore line 50 to wit what they ment gaue him leaue to propose what him liked verelie trusting for the good mind that he bare them all none of them anie thing would intend vnto himward wherewith he ought to bée gréeued When the duke had this leaue and pardon to speake then waxed he bold to shew him their intent and purpose with all the causes moouing them therevnto as ye before haue heard and finallie to beséech his grace that it would like him of his accustomed line 60 goodnesse and zeale vnto the realme now with his eie of pitie to behold the long continued distresse and decaie of the same and to set his gratious hands to redresse and amendment thereof All which he might well doo by taking vpon him the crowne and gouernance of this realme according to his right and title lawfullie descended vnto him and to the laud of God profit of the land vnto his noble grace so much the more honour and lesse paine in that that neuer prince reigned vpon anie people that were so glad to liue vnder his obeisance as the people of this realme vnder his When the protector had heard the proposition he looked verie strangelie thereat and answered that all were it that he partlie knew the things by them alledged to be true yet such entire loue he bare vnto king Edward and his children that so much more regarded his honour in other realmes about than the crowne of anie one of which he was neuer desirous that he could not find in his hart in this point to incline to their desire For in all other nations where the truth were not well knowne it should peraduenture be thought that it were his owne ambitious mind and deuise to depose the prince and take himselfe the crowne With which infamie he would not haue his honour stained for anie crowne in which he had euer perceiued much more labour and paine than pleasure to him that so would vse it as he that would not were not worthie to haue it Notwithstanding he not onlie pardoned them the motion that they made him but also thanked them for the loue and hartie fauour they bare him praieng them for his sake to giue and beare the same to the prince vnder whom he was and would be content to liue and with his labour and counsell as farre as should like the king to vse him he would doo his vttermost deuoir to set the realme in good state which was alreadie in this little while of his protectorship the praise giuen to God well begun in that the malice of such as were before occasion of the contrarie and of new intended to be were now partlie by good policie partlie more by Gods speciall prouidence than mans prouision repressed Upon this answer giuen the duke by the protectors licence a little rowned aswell with other noble men about him as with the maior and recorder of London And after that vpon like pardon desired obteined he shewed alowd vnto the protector that for a finall conclusion that the realme was appointed K. Edwards line should not anie longer reigne vpon them both for that they had so farre gone that it was now no suertie to retreat as for that they thought it for the weale vniuersall to take that waie although they had not yet begun it Wherefore if it would like his grace to take the crowne vpon him they would humblie beseech him therevnto If he would giue them a resolute answer to the contrarie which they would be loth to heare then must they needs seeke and should not faile to find some other noble man that would These words much mooued the protector which else as euerie man may weet would neuer of likelihood haue inclined therevnto But when he saw there was none other waie but that either he must take it or else he and his both go from it he said vnto the lords and commons Sith we perceiue well that all the realme is so set whereof we be verie sorie that they will not suffer in any wise king Edwards line to gouerne them whom no man earthlie can gouerne against their willes we well also perceiue that no man is there to whome the crowne can by iust title apperteine as to our selues as verie right heire lawfully begotten of the bodie of our most déere father Richard late duke of Yorke to which title is now ioined your election the nobles and commons of this realme which we of all titles possible take for the most effectuall we be content and agrée fauourablie to incline to your petition and request and according to the same here we take vpon vs the roiall estate preheminence and kingdome of the two noble realmes England and France the one from this daie forward by vs and our heires to rule gouerne and defend the other by Gods grace and your good helpe to get againe and subdue and establish for euer in due obedience vnto this realme of England the aduancement wherof we neuer aske of God longer to liue than we intend to procure With this there was a great shout crieng King Richard king Richard And then the lords went vp to the king for so was he from that time called and the people departed talking diuerslie of the matter euerie man as his fantasie gaue him But much they talked and maruelled of the maner of this dealing that the matter was on both parts made so strange as though neither had euer communed with other thereof before when that themselues wist there was no man so dull that heard them but he perceiued well inough that all the matter was made betwéene them Howbeit some excused that againe and said line 10 all must be doone in good order though and men must sometime for the maners sake not be aknowen what they know though it be hard to outreach the circumspect wise vigilant minded man as the poet saith non facile est tibi Decipere Vlyssem For at the consecration of a bishop euerie man woteth well by the paieng for his buls
king Richard entered into a treatie also of aliance for the concluding of a marriage betwixt the duke of Rothsaie eldest sonne to the king of Scots and the ladie Anne de la Poole daughter to Iohn duke of Suffolke and the duchesse Anne sister to king Richard which sister he so much fauoured line 30 that studieng by all waies and meanes possible how to aduance hir linage he did not onelie thus seeke to preferre hir daughter in marriage but also after the death of his sonne he proclamed Iohn earle of Lincolne hir sonne and his nephue heire apparant to the crowne of England disheriting king Edwards daughters whose brethren as ye haue heard he most wickedlie had caused to be murthered and made awaie The king of Scots standing in néed of freends line 40 although not so greatlie as king Richard did willinglie consent to that motion of marriage first broched by king Richard insomuch that it tooke effect and by commissioners was passed and concluded in maner as in the historie of Scotland it likewise appeareth But albeit that by this league and amitie thus couenanted and concluded it might he thought that all conspiracies coniurations and confederacies against king Richard had béene extinct especiallie considering the duke of Buckingham and his alies line 50 were dispatched out of the waie some by death and some by flight and banishment into farre countries yet king Richard more doubting than trusting to his owne people and freends was continuallie vexed and troubled in mind for feare of the earle of Richmonds returne which dailie dread and hourelie agonie caused him to liue in dolefull miserie euer vnquiet and in maner in continuall calamitie Wherefore he intending to be reléeued and to haue an end of all his doubtfull dangers determined line 60 cléerelie to extirpate and plucke vp by the roots all the matter and ground of his feare and doubts Insomuch that after long and deliberate consultation had nothing was for his purpose and intent thought either more necessarie or expedient than once againe with price praier and rewards to attempt the duke of Britaine in whose territorie the earle of Richmond then abode to deliuer the said earle into his hands by which onelie meanes he should be discharged of all feare and perill and brought to rest and quietnesse both of bodie and mind Wherefore incontinent he sent certeine ambassadors to the duke of Britaine which tooke vpon them beside the great and ample rewards that they brought with them into Britaine that king Richard should yearelie paie and answer the duke of all the reuenues rents and profits of the seigniories lands and possessions as well belonging and apperteining to the erle of Richmond as to anie other noble or gentleman which then were in the earles companie if he after that time would kéepe them in continuall prison and restraine them from libertie The ambassadors furnished with these and other instructions arriued in Britaine and came to the dukes house where with him they could haue no maner of communication concerning their weightie affaires by reason that he being faint and weakened by a long and dailie infirmitie began a little to wax idle and weake in his wit and remembrance For which cause Peter Landoise his cheefe treasuror a man both of pregnant wit and great authoritie ruled and adiudged all things at his pleasure and commandement for which cause as men set in authoritie be not best beloued he excited prouoked against him the malice and euill will of the nobilitie of Britaine which afterward for diuerse great offenses by him during his authoritie perpetrate committed by their meanes was brought to death confusion The English ambassadors mooued their message and request to Peter Landoise and to him declared their maisters commandement instantlie requiring and humblie desiring him in whose power it laie to doo all things in Britaine that he would freendlie assent to the request of king Richard offering to him the same rewards and lands that they should haue offered to the duke This Peter which was no lesse disdeined than hated almost of all the people of Britaine thought that if he did assent satisfie king Richards petition and desire he should be of power and abilitie sufficient to withstand and refell the malicious attempts and disdeinfull inuentions of his enuious aduersaries Wherefore he faithfullie promised to accomplish king Richards request desire so that he kept promise with him that he might be able to withstand the cankered malice of his secret enimies This act that he promised to doo was not for anie grudge or malice that he bare vnto the erle of Richmond for as you haue heard before he deliuered him from the perill of death at saint Malos when he was in great doubt of life and ieopardie But as cause ariseth we euer offend and that curssed hunger of gold and execrable thirst of lucre and inward feare of losse of authoritie driueth the blind minds of couetous men ambitious persons to euils and mischéefs innumerable not remembring losse of good name obloquie of the people nor in conclusion the punishment of God for their merits and deserts Which vengeance of God for such falshood was more to be feared than the gaie offers of the king to be desired for the one was sure to fall the other was likelie to faile Wherefore it is wisedome to make choise of a fréend by the rule of the wiseman to be obserued in wine which is drunke with pleasure when it is old Neither dooth it stand with a mans safetie to trust a freend too farre for occasions maie fall out wherby he shall become an enimie as the poet saith Hostis erit forsan qui tuns hospes erat But fortune was so fauourable to the publike wealth of the realme of England that this deadlie and dolorous compact tooke none effect or place For while posts ran and letters were sent to and fro for the finishing of this great enterprise betwéene king Richard and Peter Landoise Iohn Morton bishop of Elie soiourning then in Flanders was of all this craftie conueiance certified by his secret and sure fréends Wherefore he sent Christopher Urswike which at that verie season was come out of Britaine into Flanders to declare to the earle of Richmond how all the deceit and craftie working was conueied and compassed giuing him charge to counsell and aduise the earle in all hast possible with all his companie to retire out of Britaine into France When these newes were brought to the earle he then kept house in Uannes and incontinent dispatched againe Christopher Urswike vnto Charles the French king requiring him that he and his might safelie passe into France Which desire being obteined line 10 the messenger shortlie returned to his lord and prince The earle well perceiuing that it was expedient and necessarie with all spéed and diligence to looke to this weightie matter calling verie few to counsell he made inquirie
counterfeit duke of Yorke otherwise rightlie named Perkin Warbecke Truelie the realme of England was in maner diuided with the rumor and vaine fable spred abroad of this twise borne duke into partakings and contrarie factions And some of the noble men conspired togither purposing to aid the foresaid Perkin as the man whome they reputed to be the verie sonne of king Edward and that the matter was not feigned but altogither true iust and not imagined of anie malicious pretense or euill purpose And bicause the thing was weightie and required great aid and assistance therefore they determined line 10 to send messengers vnto the ladie Margaret to know when Richard duke of Yorke might conuenientlie come into England to the intent that they being thereof certified might be in a readinesse to helpe and succour him at his arriuall So by the common consent of the conspirators sir Robert Clifford knight and William Barleie were sent into Flanders which discouered to the duches all the secret intents and priuie meanings of the fréends and fautors of the new found duke The duches gladlie receiued line 20 this message and after shee had heard their errand shée brought the messenger to the sight of Perkin who so well counterfeited the gesture countenance and maner of Richard duke of Yorke that sir Robert Clifford beléeued verelie that he was the second sonne of king Edward and therefore wrote a letter of credit into England to his complices and to put them out of doubt he affirmed that he knew him to be king Edwards sonne by his face and other lineaments of his bodie line 30 Upon this letter the chéefe dooers in this businesse spred the signification thereof abroad through the realme to the intent to stirre the people to some new tumult and commotion but it was doone by such a secret craft that no man could tell who was the author of that rumor The king perceiued that this vaine fable was not vanished out of the mad brains of the common people To prouide therefore against all perils that might thereby insue he sent certeine knights that were skilfull men of warre with competent line 40 bands of soldiers to kéepe the sea coasts and hauens to vnderstand who came in and went out of the realme doubting least some great conspiracie were in brewing against him He also sent into the low countries certeine persons to learne the truth of this forged dukes progenie where some of them that were so sent comming to Tournie got knowlege that he was borne in that citie of base linage and named Perkin Warbecke line 50 The king then aduertised not onelie by his espials vpon their returne but also from other his trustie freends determined with all spéed to haue the fraud published both in Englan◠and forren parts and for the same cause sent sir Edward Poinings knight sir William Warram doctor of the laws vnto Philip archduke of Burgognie and to his councellors bicause he was not of age able to gouerne of himselfe to signifie to him and them that the yoong man being with the ladie Margaret had falselie and line 60 vntruelie vsurped the name of Richard duke of Yorke which long before was murthered with his brother Edward in the Tower of London by the commandement of their vncle king Richard as manie men then liuing could testifie The ambassadors comming to the court of Philip the archduke were honorablie interteined of him and of his councell and willed to declare the effect of their message William Warram made to them an eloquent oration and in the later end somewhat inueihed against the ladie Margaret not sparing to declare how she now in hir later age had brought foorth within the space of a few yeares togither two detestable monsters that is to saie Lambert of whom yée heard before and this same Perkin Warbecke and being conceiued of these two great babes was not deliuered of them in eight or nine moneths as nature requireth but in one hundred and eightie moneths for both these at the lest were fiftéene yéers of age yer she would be brought in bed of them and shew them openlie and when they were newlie crept out of hir wombe they were no infants but lustie yoonglings and of age sufficient to bid battell to kings Although these rawnts angred the ladie Margaret to the hart yet Perkin was more vexed with the things declared in this oration and especiallie bicause his cloaked iuggling was brought to light The duches intending to cast hot sulphur into the new kindled fire determined with might and maine to arme and set forward prettie Perkin against the king of England When the ambassadors had doone their message and that the archdukes councell had long debated the matter they made answer that to haue the king of Englands loue the archduke and they would neither aid nor assist Perkin nor his complices in anie cause or quarrell Yet notwithstanding if the ladie Margaret persisting in hir rooted malice towards the king of England would be to him aiding and helping it was not in their power to withstand it for bicause in the lands assigned to hir for hir dower she might franklie and fréelie order all things at hir will and pleasure without contradiction of anie other gouernour After that the ambassadors were returned with this answer the king streight sent foorth certeine espials into Flanders which should feigne themselues to haue fled to the duke of Yorke and thereby search out the whole intent of the conspiracie and after what sort they meant to proceed in the same Others were sent also to intise sir Robert Clifford and William Barleie to returne into England promising to them pardon of all their offenses and high rewards for obeieng the kings request They that were sent did so earnestlie and prudentlie applie their businesse that they brought all things to passe at their owne desires For first they learned who were the chéefe conspirators and after persuaded sir Robert Clifford to giue ouer that enterprise which had no grounded staie to rest vpon Albeit William Barleie at the first would not leaue off but continued his begun attempt till after two yeares he repenting him of his follie hauing pardon granted him of the king returned home into his natiue countrie When the king had knowledge of the chiefe capteins of this conspiracie by the ouerture of his espials which were returned he caused them to be apprehended and brought to London before his presence Of the which the chiefe were Iohn Ratcliffe lord Fitz-Water sir Simon Montford sir Tho. Thwaits knights William Daubeneie Robert Ratcliffe Thomas Cressenor and Thomas Astwood Also certeine preests religious men as sir William Richford doctor of diuinitie and sir Thomas Poines both friers of saint Dominikes order doctor William Sutton sir William Worseleie deane of Paules Robert Laiborne and sir Richard Lesseie Other which were guiltie hearing that their fellowes were apprehended fled and tooke
Clifford as concerning Perkin which falselie vsurped the name of K. Edwards sonne sir William Stanleie said that if he knew certeinlie that the yoong man was the indubitate heire of king Edward the fourth he would neuer fight or beare armour against him This point argued that he bare no hartie good will toward king Henrie as then But what was the cause that he had conceiued some inward grudge towards the king or how it chanced that the king had withdrawen his speciall fauor from him manie haue doubted Some indéed haue gessed that sir William Stanlie for the seruice which he shewed at Bosworth field thought that all the benefits which he receiued of the king to be farre vnder that which he had deserued in preseruing not onelie the kings life but also in obteining for him the victorie of his enimies so that his aduersarie was slaine in the field Wherfore desiring to be created earle of Chester and therof denied he began to disdeine the king And one thing incouraged him much which was the riches and treasure of king Richard which he onlie possessed at the battell of Bosworth by reason of which riches and great power of men he set naught by the king his souereigne lord and maister The king hauing thus an hole in his coat doubted first what he should doo with him for loth he was to lose the fauour of his brother the earle of Derbie and againe to pardon him he feared least it should be an euill example to other that should go about to attempt the like offense And so at length seueritie got the vpper hand mercie was put backe in so much that he was arreigned at Westminster and adiudged to die and line 10 according to that iudgement was brought to the Tower hill the sixtéenth daie of Februarie year 1495 and there had his head striken off This was the end of sir William Stanleie the chiefest helper of king Henrie to the crowne at Bosworth field against king Richard the third and who set the same crowne first vpon the kings head when it was found in the field trampled vnder féet He was a man while he liued of great power in his countrie and also of great wealth in somuch as the common line 20 same ran that there was in his castell of Holt found in readie coine plate and iewels to the value of fortie thousand markes or more and his land and fees extended to three thousand pounds by yeare Neuerthelesse all helped not neither his good seruice in Bosworth field neither his forwardnesse euen with the hazard of life to prefer K. Henrie to the crowne neither his faithfulnesse in cleauing to him at all brunts neither the bond of aliance betwixt them neither the power that he was able to make neither line 30 the riches which he was worth neither intercession of fréends which he wanted not none of these nor all these could procure the redemption of his lost life Oâ—luxum decus hominum ô variabile tempus ¶ On the sixtéenth of Nouember was holden the sergeants feast at the bishops place of Elie in Holborne where dined the king queene and all the chiefe lords of England The new sergeants names were maister Mordant Higham Kingsmill Conisbie Butler Yakesleie Frowicke Oxenbridge Constable line 40 In digging for to laie a new foundation in the church of saint Marie hill in London the bodie of 〈◊〉 Hackneie which had béene buried in the church 〈…〉 of 175 yeares was found whole of skinne the ioints of hir armes pliable which corpse was kept aboue ground foure daies without annoiance and then buried againe ¶ Also this yeare as maister Grafton saith at the charges of maister Iohn Tate alderman of London was the church of saint Anthonies founded annexed vnto the college of Windsore line 50 wherein was erected one notable and frée schoole to the furtherance of learning and a number of poore people by the name of almesmen which were poore aged and decaied housholders releeued to the great commendation of that worthie man who so liued in worship that his death by his worthie dooings maketh him still aliue for he was not forgetfull to beautifie the good state of this citie in which by wealth he had tasted of Gods blessings About this same time diuerse men were punished line 60 that had vpon a presumptuous boldnesse spoken manie slanderous words against the kings maiestie hoping still for the arriuall of the feigned Richard duke of Yorke After the death of sir William Stanleie Giles lord Daubenie was elected and made the kings chéefe chamberleine Also the K. sent into Ireland to purge out the euill wicked séeds of rebellion amongest the wild sauage Irish people sowed there by the craftie conueiance of Perkin Warbecke sir Henrie Deane late abbat of Langtonie whome he made chancellor of that Ile sir Edward Poinings knight with an armie of men The fauourers of Perkin hearing that sir Edward Poinings was come with a power to persecute them withdrew streightwaies and fled into the woods and marishes for the safegard of themselues Sir Edward Poinings according to his commission intending to punish such as had aided and aduanced the enterprise of Perkin with his whole armie marched forward against the wild Irishmen bicause that all other being culpable of that offense fled and resorted to them for succour But when he saw that his purpose succéeded not as he would haue wished it both bicause the Irish lords sent him no succour according to their promises and also for that his owne number was not sufficient to furnish his enterprise bicause his enimies were dispersed amongst woods mounteins and marishes he was constreined to recule backe sore displeased in his mind against Gerald earle of Kildare being then the kings deputie Now the cause of this his discontentment was for that the said earle was suspected to be the meane that he had no succours sent him and was so informed in déed by such as bare the earle no good will And therefore suddenlie he caused the earle to be apprehended and as a prisoner brought him in his companie into England Which earle being examined and sundrie points of treason laid to him he so auoided them all laid the burthen in other mens necks that he was dismissed and sent into Ireland againe there to be deputie and lieutenant as he was before The king being now in some better suertie of his estate did take his progresse into Lancashire the fiue twentith daie of Iune there to make merrie with his moother the countesse of Derbie which then laie at Lathome in the countrie In this meane while Perkin Warbecke being in Flanders sore troubled that his iuggling was discouered yet he determined not to leaue off his enterprise in hope at length to atteine the crowne of England and so gathering a power of all nations some bankrupts some false English sanctuarie men some théeues robbers
lord cardinall quoth the king I can well excuse you in this matter marrie quoth he you haue béene rather against me in the tempting héereof than a setter forward or moouer of the same The speciall cause that mooued me vnto this matter was a certeine scrupulositie that pricked my conscience vpon certeine words spoken at a time when it was by the bishop of Baion the French ambassador who had béene hither sent vpon the debating of a marriage to be concluded betweene our daughter the ladie Marie and the duke of Orleance second son to the king of France Upon the resolution and determination whereof he desired respit to aduertise the king his maister thereof whether our daughter Marie should be legitimate in respect of this my marriage with this woman being sometimes my brothers wife Which words once conceiued within the secret bottome of my conscience ingendered such a scrupulous doubt that my conscience was incontinentlie accombred vexed and disquieted whereby I thought my selfe to be greatlie in danger of Gods indignation Which appeared to be as me seemed the rather for that he sent vs no issue male and all such issues male as my said wife had by me died incontinent after they came into the world so that I doubted the great displeasure of God in that behalfe Thus my conscience being tossed in the waues of a scrupulous mind and partlie in despaire to haue anie other issue than I had alredie by this ladie now my wife it behooued me further to consider the state of this realme and the danger it stood in for lacke of a prince to succéed me I thought it good in release of the weightie burthen of my weake conscience also the quiet estate of this worthie relme to attempt the law therin whether I may lawfullie take another wife more lawfullie by whome God may send me more issue in case this my first copulation was not good without anie carnall concupiscence and not for line 10 anie displeasure or misliking of the queenes person and age with whome I would be as well contented to continue if our mariage may stand with the laws of God as with anie woman aliue In this point consisteth all this doubt that we go about now to trie by the learning wisedome and iudgement of you our prelats and pastors of all this our realme and dominions now heere assembled for that purpose to whose conscience learning I haue committed the charge and iudgement according to line 20 the which I will God willing be right well content to submit my selfe and for my part obeie the same Wherein after that I perceiued my conscience so doubtfull I mooued it in confession to you my lord of Lincolne then ghostlie father And for so much as then you your selfe were in some doubt you mooued me to aske the counsell of all these my lords wherevpon I mooued you my lord of Canturburie first to haue your licence in as much as you were metropolitane to put this matter in question and so I did of line 30 all you my lords to which you granted vnder your seales héere to be shewed That is truth quoth the archbishop of Canturburie After that the king rose vp and the court was adiorned vntill another daie Héere is to be noted that the quéene in presence of the whole court most gréeuouslie accused the cardinall of vntruth deceit wickednesse malice which had sowne dissention betwixt hir and the king hir husband and therefore openlie protested that she did vtterlie abhorre refuse and forsake such a iudge as line 40 was not onelie a most malicious enimie to hir but also a manifest aduersarie to all right and iustice and therewith did she appeale vnto the pope committing hir whole cause to be iudged of him But notwithstanding this appeale the legats sat weekelie and euerie daie were arguments brought in on both parts and proofes alleaged for the vnderstanding of the case and still they assaied if they could by anie meanes procure the quéene to call backe hir appeale which she vtterlie refused to doo The king would line 50 gladlie haue had an end in the matter but when the legats draue time and determined vpon no certeine point he conceiued a suspicion that this was doone of purpose that their dooings might draw to none effect or conclusion The next court daie the cardinals sat againe at which time the councell on both sides were there readie to answer The kings councell alleaged the matrimonie not to be lawfull at the beginning bicause of the carnall copulation had betwéene prince Arthur line 60 and the quéene This matter was verie vehementlie touched on that side and to prooue it they alleaged manie reasons and similitudes of truth and being answered negatiuelie againe on the other side it seemed that all their former allegations were doubtfull to be tried and that no man knew the truth And thus this court passed from sessions to sessions and daie to daie till at certeine of their sessions the king sent the two cardinals to the queene who was then in Bridewell to persuade with hir by their wisdoms and to aduise hir to surrender the whole matter into the kings hands by hir owne consent will which should be much better to hir honour than to stand to the triall of law and thereby to be condemned which should séeme much to hir dishonour The cardinals being in the queenes chamber of presence the gentleman vsher aduertised the quéene that the cardinals were come to speake with hir With that she rose vp with a skeine of white thred about hir necke came into hir chamber of presence where the cardinals were attending At whose comming quoth she What is your plesure with me If it please your grace quoth cardinall Wolseie to go into your priuie chamber we will shew you the cause of our comming My lord quoth she if yée haue anie thing to saie speake it openlie before all these folke for I feare nothing that yee can saie against me but that I would all the world should heare and sée it and therefore speake your mind Then began the cardinall to speake to hir in Latine Naie good my lord quoth she speake to me in English Forsooth quoth the cardinall good madame if it please you we come both to know your mind how you are disposed to doo in this matter betwéene the king and you and also to declare secretlie our opinions and counsell vnto you which we doo onelie for verie zeale and obedience we beare vnto your grace My lord quoth she I thanke you for your good will but to make you answer in your request I cannot so suddenlie for I was set among my maids at worke thinking full little of anie such matter wherein there néedeth a longer deliberation and a better head than mine to make answer for I néed counsell in this case which toucheth me so néere for anie counsell or freendship that I
die for according to the law and by the law I am iudged to die and therfore I will speake nothing against it I am come hither to accuse no man nor to speake anie thing of that whereof I am accused condemned to die but I praie God saue the king and send him long to reigne ouer you for a gentler nor a more mercifull prince was there neuer and to me he was euer a good a gentle and a souereigne lord And if anie person will meddle of my cause I require them to iudge the best And thus I take my leaue of the world and of you all and I hartilie desire you all to praie for me Oh Lord haue mercie on me to God I commend my soule Iesu receiue my soule diuerse times repeting those words till that hir head was striken off with the sword Now bicause I might rather saie much than sufficientlie inough in praise of this noble quéene as well for hir singular wit and other excellent qualities of mind as also for hir fauouring of learned men zeale of religion and liberalitie in distributing almes in reliefe of the poore I will refer the reader vnto master Fox his volume of Acts and Monuments where he commendeth hir mild nature in taking admonition prooueth hir marriage lawfull defendeth hir succession ouerthroweth the sinister iudgements opinions and obiections of backebiters against that vertuous quéene sheweth hir faith and trust in Christ at hir death and finallie how the protestants of Germanie forsooke king Henrie for the death of so good a princesse ¶ Anglorum praelia saith that this good quéene was forwarned of hir death in a dreame wherein Morpheus the god of sléepe in the likenesse of hir grandfather appéered vnto hir and after a long narration of the vanities of this world how enuie reigneth in the courts of princes maligning the fortunate estate of the vertuous how king Henrie the eight and his issue should be the vtter ouerthrow and expulsion of poperie out of England and that the gouernment of quéene Elizabeth should be established in tranquillitie peace he saith vnto hir in conclusion by waie of prophesie as our poet hath recorded Forti sis animo tristis si nuncius adsum Insperata tuae velox necis aduenit hora Intra triginta spacium moriere dierum Hoc magnum mortis solamen habeto futurae Elizabetha suis praeclarè filia gestis Nomen ad astraferet patris matrÃsque suúmque Immediatlie after hir death in the wéeke before Whitsuntide the king married the ladie Iane Seimer daughter to sir Iohn Seimer knight which at Whitsuntide was openlie shewed as quéene And on the tuesdaie in Whitsunwéeke hir brother sir Edw. Seimer was created vicount Beauchampe and sir Water Hungerford lord Hungerford The eight of Iune began the parlement during the which the lord Thomas Howard without the kings assent affied the ladie Margaret Duglas daughter to the quéene of Scots and neece to the king for which act he was atteinted of treason and an act made for like offendors and so he died in the tower and she remained long there as prisoner In the time of this parlement the bishops and all the cleargie of the realme held a solemne conuocation at Paules church in London where after much disputation and debating of matters they published a booke of religion intituled Articles deuised by the kings highnesse c. In this booke is speciallie mentioned but thrée sacraments Also beside this booke certeine iniunctions were giuen foorth wherby a number of their holie daies were abrogated speciallie those that fell in haruest time ¶ The nine twentith of Iune the king held a great iusting and triumph at Westminster where were ordeined two lighters made like ships to fight vpon the water one of the which brake in the midst wherby one Gates a gentleman seruant to M. Knâ—net was drowned in his harnesse In the other a gun brake hir chamber maimed two of the mariners Thomas Cromwell secretarie vnto the king and maister of the rols was made lord kéeper of the priuie seale and the ninth of Iulie the lord Fitzwaren was created erle of Bath and the morrow after the said lord Cromwell was created lord Cromwell The eightéenth of Iulie he was made knight and vicar generall vnder the king ouer the spiritualtie and sat diuerse times in the conuocation amongst the bishops as head ouer them The two and twentith of Iulie Henrie duke of Richmont and Summerset earle of Northampton base sonne to the king begot line 10 of the ladie Tailebois then called Elizabeth Blunt departed this life at saint Iames and was buried at Thetford in Norffolke of whome you shall find more in the treatise of the dukes of this land In September Thomas Cromwell lord priuie seale and vicegerent sent abroad vnder the kings spirituall priuie seale certeine iniunctions commanding that the persons and curats should teach their parishioners the Pater noster the Aue Creed with the ten commandements and articles of the line 20 faith in English These articles and iniunctions being established by authoritie of parlement and now to the people deliuered bred a great misliking in the harts of the common people which had beene euer brought vp and trained in contrarie doctrine And herewith diuerse of the cleargie as moonks priests and others tooke occasion herby to speake euill of the late procéedings of the king touching matters of religion affirming that if spéedie remedie were not in time prouided the faith would shortlie be vtterlie line 30 destroied and all praier and diuine seruice quite abolished and taken awaie Manie sinister reports slanderous tales and feigned fables were blowne abroad and put into the peoples eares and diuerse of the nobilitie did also what they could to stir the commons to rebellion faithfullie promising both aid and succour against the king The people thus prouoked to mischiefe and deceiued through ouer light credence incontinentlie as it were to mainteine that religion which had so manie line 40 yeares continued and béene estéemed they stiffelie and stoutlie conspired togither and in a part of Lincolneshire they first assembled and shortlie after ioined into an armie being as it was supposed of men apt for the warres in number about twentie thousand Against these rebels with all the hast that might be the king in his proper person vpon intelligence therof had marched towards them being furnished with a warlike armie perfectlie appointed of all things that to such a companie should apperteine line 50 The rebels hearing that his person was present with his power to come thus against them began to feare what would follow of their dooings and such nobles and gentlemen as at the first fauoured their cause fell from them and withdrew so that they being destitute of capteines at length put certeine petitions in writing which they exhibited to the king professing that they neuer intended hurt
immediatlie sent to the tower and three daies after Connesbie was committed thither also They remained there in ward about ten daies and were then deliuered Sir Humfreie Browne was the kings sargeant at law sir Nicholas Hare was one of the kings councellors and speaker of the parlement who being then depriued was now againe thereto restored William Connesbie was attorneie of the dutchie of Lancaster In this parlement were freelie granted without contradictions foure fiftéenes and a subsidie of two shillings of lands and twelue pence of goods toward the kings great charges of making Bâ—lworkes The eighteenth of Aprill at Westminster was Thomas lord Cromwell created earle of Essex and ordeined great chamberleine of England which office the earles of Oxford were woont euer to enioie also Gregorie his sonne was made lord Cromwell The foure and twentith of Aprill Thomas lord Audleie chancellor of England with sir Anthonie Browne maister of the kings horsses were made knights of the night honourable order of the garter On Maie daie was a great triumph of iusting at Westminster which iusts had beene proclaimed in France Flanders Scotland and Spaine for all commers that would against the challengers of England which were sir Iohn Dudleie sir Thomas Seimer sir Thomas Poinings sir George Carew knights Anthonie Kingston and Richard Cromwell esquiers which said challengers came into the lists that daie richlie apparelled and their horsses trapped all in white veluet with certeine knights and gentlemen riding afore them apparelled all in white veluet and white sarsenet and all their seruants in white dublets and hozen cut after the Burgonion fashion and there came to iust against them the said daie of defendants fortie six the earle of Surrie being the formost lord William Howard lord Clinton and lord Cromwell sonne and heire to Thomas Cromwell earle of Essex and chamberleine of England with other which were richlie apparelled And that day sir Iohn Dudleie was ouerthrowne in the field by mischance of his horsse by one master line 10 Breme defendant neuerthelesse he brake diuerse speares valiantlie after that And after the said iusts were doone the said challengers rode to Durham place where they kept open houshold and feasted the king and quéene with hir ladies and all the court The second of Maie Anthonie Kingston Richard Cromwell were made knights at the said place The third of Maie the said challengers did tournie on horssebacke with swords against them came nine and twentie defendants sir Iohn Dudleie and the line 20 earle of Surrie running first who in the first course lost both their gantlets and that daie sir Richard Cromwell ouerthrew master Palmer in the field off his horsse to the great honor of the challengers On the fift of Maie the said challengers fought on foot at the barriers and against them came thirtie defendants which fought valiantlie but sir Richard Cromwell ouerthrew that daie at the barriers master Culpeper in the field The said challengers brake vp their houshold after line 30 they had kept open hospitalitie and feasted the king quéene and all the lords beside all the knights and burgesses of the common house in time of the parlement and the maior aldermen and all their wiues to their no small honor though great expense In the parlement which began the eightéenth of Aprill last past the religion of saint Iohns in England commonlie called the order of knights of the Rhodes was dissolued on the ascension day being the fift of Maie sir William Weston knight prior line 40 of saint Iohns departed this life for thought as was reported which he tooke to the heart after he heard of that dissolution of his order ¶ For the king tooke all the lands that belonged to that order into his hands to the augmentation of his crowne and gaue vnto euerie of the challengers aboue written for a reward of their valiantnesse a hundred marks and a house to dwell in of yearelie reuenues out of the said lands for euer The same moneth were sent to the Tower doctor line 50 Samson bishop of Chichester and doctor Wilson for reléeuing certeine traitorous persons and for the same offense was one Richard Farmer a grocer of London a rich and welthie man and of good estimation in the citie committed to the Marshalseie after at Westminster hall arreigned and atteinted in the premunire so that he lost all his goods ¶ The ninth daie of Iulie Thomas lord Cromwell late made earle of Essex as before you haue heard being in the councell chamber was suddenlie apprehended committed line 60 to the Tower of London the which manie lamented but more reioised and speciallie such as either had béene religious men or fauoured religious persons for they banketed triumphed togither that night manie wishing that that daie had béene seuen yeares before some fearing that he should escape although he were imprisoned could not be merie Other who knew nothing but truth by him both lamented him and heartilie praied for him But this is true that of certeine of the cleargie he was detestablie hated and speciallie such as had borne swinge and by his meanes were put from it for in déed he was a man that in all his dooings seemed not to fauor anie kind of poperie nor could not abide the snuffing pride of some prelats which vndoubtedlie whatsoeuer else was the cause of his death did shorten his life and procured the end that he was brought vnto which was that the ninteenth daie of the said moneth he was atteinted by parlement and neuer came to his answer which law manie reported that he caused first to be made howbeit the plaine truth thereof I know not The articles for which he died appeare in the records where his attaindor is written which are too long here to be rehearsed but to conclude he was there atteinted of heresie and high treason and the eight twentith of Iulie was brought to the scaffold on the Tower hill where he said these words following The words of the lord Cromwell spoken at his death I Am come hither to die and not to purge my selfe as may happen some thinke that I will for if I should so doo I were a verie wretch and a miser I am by the law condemned to die and thanke my Lord God that hath appointed me this death for mine offense For since the time that I came to yeares of discretion I haue liued a sinner and offended my Lord God for the which I aske him hartilie forgiuenesse And it is not vnknowne to manie of you that I haue beene a great traueller in the world and being but of a base degree was called to high estate And since the time I came therevnto I haue offended my prince for the which I aske him hartilie forgiuenesse and beseech you all to praie to God with me that he will forgiue me O Father forgiue me O Sonne forgiue me O Holie ghost
number of things waxeth lesse and by scarsitie be inhansed compelleth men to abate their liberalitie in house both to their owne and also to strangers And where the rich wanteth what can the poore find who in a common scarsitie liueth most scarselie and feeleth quickliest the sharpnesse of staruing when euerie man for lacke is hungerbitten Which if ye had well remembred before as ye now maie after perceiue ye would not I thinke so stiffe-neckedlie haue resisted and indangered your selues in the storme of famine whereof ye most likelie must haue the greatest part which most stubbornlie resisted to your owne shame and confusion Experience teacheth vs that after a great dearth commeth a great death for that when men in great want of meat eat much ill meat they fill their bodies with ill humors and cast them from their state of health into a subiection of sickenesse bicause the good bloud in the bodie is not able to kéepe his temper for the multitude of the ill humors that corrupteth the same And so grow great deadlie plagues and destroie great numbers of all sorts sparing no kind that they light on neither respecting the poore line 10 with mercie nor the rich with fauour Can ye thereforethinke herein when ye see decaie of vittels the rich pinch the poore famish the following of diseases the greatnesse of death the mourning of widowes the pitifulnesse of the fatherlesse and all this miserie to come thorough your vnnaturall misbehauiour that ye haue not dangerouslie hurt the commons of your countrie with a dolefull and vncurable wound These things being once felt in the common-wealth line 20 as they must néeds be euerie man séeth by and by what followeth euen a great diminishment of the strength of the realme when the due number that the realme dooth mainteine is made lesse and thereby we be made rather a preie for our enimies than a safetie for our selues And how can there be but a great decaie o◠people at the length when some be ouerthrowne in warre some suffer for punishment some pine for famine some die with the campes diet some be consumed line 30 with sickenesse For although ye thinke your selues able to match with a few vnprepared gentlemen and put them from their houses that ye might gaine the spoile doo ye iudge the refore your selues strong inough not onelie to withstand a kings power but also to ouerthrow it Is it possible that ye should haue so mad a frensie in your head that ye should thinke the number ye sée so strong that all ye sée not should not be able to preuaile to the contrarie With what reason could ye thinke that if ye bode the hot line 40 brunt of battell but ye must néeds feele the smart speciallie the kings power comming against you which if ye feare not belike ye know not the force thereof And so much the greater number is lost in the realme that both the ouercommer and the ouercommed be parties although vnlike of one realme and what losse is not onelie of either side but of both that dooth plainlie redound to the whole Then where so great and so horrible a fault is committed as woorse can not be mentioned of from the line 50 beginning and bringeth in withall such penurie such weakenes such disorder in the common-wealth as no mischiefe besides could doo the like can anie man thinke with iust reason that all shall escape vnpunished that shall escape the sword and not manie for terrour and examples sake should be looked vnto who haue beene either great dooers in such a disordered vilanie or great counsellors to such an outgrowne mischiefe séeing the onelie remedie of redressing wilfull faults is a iust and seuere punishment line 60 of such whose naughtie déeds good men ought to abhorre for duties sake and ill men maie dread for like punishments sake and a frée licence to doo mischiefe vnpunished is so dangerous that the sufferance of one is the occasion of the fall of a great number and womanish pitie to one is a deceitfull crueltie to the whole intising them to their owne destruction by sufferance which would haue auoided the danger by fore punishment And in such a barrennesse of vittels as must néeds come after so rauening a spoile it must néeds be that some though few shall be so nipt with egernesse of famine that they shall not recouer againe themselues out of so fretting a danger So in a generall weakenesse where all shall be féebled some must needs die and so diminish the number and abate such strength as the realme defended it selfe withall before Which occasion of neuer so few comming of so great a cause if ye should make iust amends for not of recompense which ye could not but of punish-went which ye ought how manie how diuerse and how cruell deaths ought euerie one of ye often suffer How manie came to the camps from long labour to sudden ease and from meane fare to stroieng of vittels and so fell in a maner vnwares to such a contrarie change that nature hir selfe abiding neuer great and sudden changes can not beare it without some grounds entered of diseases to come which vncircumspect men shall sooner féele than thinke of and then will scarselie iudge the cause when they shall be vexed with the effect It is little maruell that idlenesse and meat of an other mans charge will soone feed vp fat like men but it is great maruell if idlenesse and other mens meat doo not abate the same by sickenesse againe and speciallie comming from the one and going to the other contrarie in those who violentlie séeke to turne in a moment the whole realme to the contrarie For while their mind changeth from obedience to vnrulinesse and turneth it selfe from honestie to wildnesse and their bodies go from labour to idlenesse from small fare to spoile of vittels and from beds in the night to cabins and from swéet houses to stinking camps it must néeds be by changing of affections which alter the bodie and by vsing of rest that filleth the bodie and by glutting of meats which weakeneth the bodie with cold in the nights which accraseth the bodie and with corrupt aire which infecteth the bodie that there follow some grieuous tempest not onelie of contagious sickenesse but also of present death to the bodie The greatest plucke of all is that vehemencie of plague which naturallie followeth the dint of hunger which when it entereth once among men what darts of pangs what throwes of paines what showts of death dooth it cast out How manie fall not astonied with the sickenesse but fretted with the paine How beateth it downe not onelie small townes but also great countries This when ye sée light first on your beasts which lacke fodder and after fall on men whose bodies gape for it and sée the scarsenesse of men to be by this your foule enterprise and not onelie other
to the king and that as ye will not doo of your selues ye must be compelled to doo by others and that ye refuse to doo willinglie thinke ye must be drawne to doo the same constreinedlie Which when it commeth to passe as wisedome séeth in your faults that it must néeds what gaine ye then or what profit can arise to you by rising which might haue found ease in sitting still And what shall ye be at length the better for this turmoile which beside diuerse other incommodities rehearsed shall be thus clogged with the vnsufferable burden of the martiall law Yet there is one thing behind which me thinketh your selues should not forget séeing that ye haue giuen the cause ye should dulie looke for the effect Ye haue spoiled imprisoned and threatened gentlemen to death and that with such hatred of mind as may not well be borne The cause therof I speake not on which tried will happilie be not so great but sée the thing set murther aside it is the heinousest fault to a priuat man What could more spitefullie haue béene doone against them than ye haue vsed with crueltie Can this doo anie other but breed in their stomachs great grudge of displeasure toward you and ingender such an hatred as the weaker and the sufferer must néeds beare the smart thereof The kings best kind of gouernment is so to rule his subiects as a father ordereth his children and best life of obedient subiects is one to behaue himselfe to an other as though they were brethren vnder the king their father For loue is not the knot onelie of the common-wealth whereby diuerse parts be perfectlie ioined togither in one politike bodie but also the strength and might of the same gathering togither into a small roome with order which scaâ—tered would else bréed confusion and debate Dissention we sée in small houses and thereby may take example to great common-wealths how it not onelie decaieth them from wealth but also abateth them from strength Thinke small examples to take place in great matters and the like though not so great to follow in them both and there by learne to iudge of great things vnknowne by small things perceiued When brethren agrée not in a house goeth not the weakest to the walles and with whome the father taketh part withall is not he likest to preuaile Is it not wisedome for the yoonger brother after the good will of the parents to seeke his eldest brothers fauour who vnder them is most able to doo for him To séeke them both with honestie is wisedome to loose them both by sullennesse is madnesse Haue there not béene dailie benefits from the gentlemen to you in some more and in some lesse but in none considered which they haue more friendlie offered than you haue gentlie requited This must ye lose when ye will not be thankefull and learne to gaine new good will by desert when ye forsake the old friendship vnprouoked And ye must thinke that liuing in a common-wealth togither one kind hath néed of an other and yet a great sort of you more néed of one gentleman than one gentleman of a great sort of you And though all be parts of one common-wealth yet all be not like worthie parts but all being vnder obedience some kind in more subiection one waie and some kind in more seruice an other waie And séeing ye be lesse able by monie and liberalitie to deserue good will than others be and your onelie kind of desert is to shew good will which honest men doo well accept as much worth as monie haue ye not much hindâ—red hurt your selues herein losing that one kind of humanitie which ye haue onelie left and turning it into crueltie which ye ought most to abhor not onelie bicause it is wicked of it selfe but also most noisome to you I can therefore for my part thinke no lesse herein if ye follow your stiffenesse still must needs iudge that ye haue wilfullie brought on your selues such plagues as the like could not haue fallen on you but by your selues Seeing then thus manie waies ye haue hurt the common-welth of this whole countrie within by destruction of shires losing of haruest line 10 wasting of vittels decaieng of manhood vndooing of farmers increasing of vagabonds mainteining of disorders hindring of redresses bringing in of martiall law and breeding continuall hatred among diuerse states what thinke ye I praie you Iudge ye not that ye haue committed an odious and detestable crime against the whole common-wealth whose fâ—rtherance ye ought to haue tendered by dutie and not to haue sought the hurt thereof with your owne line 20 damage Besides all these inward griefes which euerie one seuerallie must néeds féele with miserie there happeneth so manie outward mischances among strangers to vs with disdaine that if there were nothing ill within the realme which we should féele yet the shame which dooth touch vs from other countries should not onelie mooue but also compell you hartilie to forethinke this your rebellious sedition For what shall strangers thinke when they shall heare of line 30 the great misorder which is in this realme with such confusion that no order of law can kéepe you vnder but must be faine to be beaten downe with a kings power Shall they not first thinke the kings maiestie in whose mind God hath powred so much hope for a child as we may looke for gifts in a man either for his age to be little set by or for lacke of qualities not to be regarded or for default of loue to be resisted and no notable grace of God in him considered nor the worthinesse of his office looked vpon nor naturall line 40 obedience due to him remembred Shall they not next suppose small estimation to be giuen to the rulers to whom vnder the king we owe due obedience that can not in iust and lawfull matters be heard nor men to haue that right iudgement of their wisedome as their iustice in rule and foresight in counsell requireth but rather prefer their owne fansies before others experience and déeme their owne reason to be common-wealth and other mens wisedome to be but dreaming Shall they not line 50 trulie saie the subiects to be more vnfaithfull in disobedience than other subiects worsse ordered be and licence of libertie to make wild heads without order and that they neither haue reason that vnderstand not the mischiefe of sedition nor dutie which follow their beastlinesse nor loue in them which so little remember the common-wealth nor naturall affection which will dailie séeke their owne destruction Thus the whole countrie lacking the good opinion of other nations is cast into great shame by your line 60 vnrulinesse and the proceedings of the countrie be they neuer so godlie shall be ill spoken of as vnfit to be brought into vse and good things hereby that deserue praise shall bide the rebuke of them that list
with certeine articles therevnto annexed to be made out concerning inclosures of commons high waies decaieng of cottages and diuerse other things giuing line 20 the commissioners authoritie to heare and determine the same causes to the subuersion of the laws and statutes of this realme whereby much sedition insurrection and rebellion haue risen and growne among the kings subiects 12 Also you haue suffered the rebels and traitors to assemble and to lie in campe and armor against the king his nobles and gentlemen without anie spéedie subduing or repressing of them 13 Also you did comfort and incourage diuerse of line 30 the said rebels by giuing of them diuerse sums of your owne monie and by promising to diuerse of them fées rewards and seruices 14 Also you in fauor of the said rebels did against the lawes cause a proclamation to be made that none of the said rebels and traitors should be sued or vexed by anie person for anie their offenses in the said rebellion to the cleare subuersion of the same lawes 15 Also you haue said in time of the rebellion line 40 that you liked well the dooings and proceedings of the said rebels and traitors and said that the couetousnesse of the gentlemen gaue occasion to the common people to rise saieng also that better it is for the commons to die than perish for lacke of liuing 16 Also you said that the lords of the parlement were loth to incline themselues to reformation of inclosures and other things therefore the people had good cause to reforme the things themselues line 50 17 Also you after the report and declaration of the defaults and lacks reported to you by such as did surueie Bullongne and the péeces there would neuer amend the same defaults 18 Also you would not suffer the péeces beyond the seas called Newhauen and Blacknesse to be furnished with men and vittels although you were aduertised of the defaults therein by the capteins of the same péeces and others and were thereto aduertised by the kings councell wherby the French king line 60 being the kings open enimie was incouraged and comforted to win the said péeces to the kings great losse and dishonour of his realme 19 Also you declared and published vntrulie as well to the kings maiestie as other the yoong lords attendant vpon his graces person that the lords of the councell at London minded to destroie the king and you required the king neuer to forget it but to reuenge it and likewise you required the yoong lords to put the king in remembrance thereof to the intent to make sedition discord betwéene the king and his lords 20 Also where the kings maiesties priuie councell of their loue and zeale that they did beare vnto the king and his realme did consult at London to haue communed with you to the intent to moue you charitablie to amend your dooings and misgouernement you hearing of the said assemblie did cause to be declared by letters in diuerse places the said lords to be high traitors to the king to the great disturbance of the realme And thus much for these troubles of the lord protector and articles against him obiected to the end as was doubted that the same should haue cost him his life But such was the pleasure of almightie God disposing mens hearts as séemeth to him best that at length to wit the sixt of Februarie next he was deliuered and that night he supped at sir Iohn Yorks one of the shiriffes of London also the proclamation before set foorth against him was reuoked called in And thus being againe restored though not to his former office yet vnto libertie he continued therein for the space of two yeares and two daies till new troubles as after shall appeare chanced to him which as they were too heauie for him either to cast off or carrie awaie so were his loders more readie to aggrauate his burthen than willing to ease him anie waie of the weight So that this his exaltation raising to dignitie in respect of the short continuance thereof as also for the enuie wherewith it was assailed had béene better not to haue happened than with such infelicitie in so short a time to haue ended But this fall from honor aduancement with losse of life than the which nothing more pretious nothing more delicious gréeued him the lesse bicause he might perceiue as some suspected that rather of enuie than otherwise reseruing the course of Gods iudgement and vengeance to the secrecie of his owne counsels the same was deuised prosecuted finallie practised Nam quo quisque magis pius est studiosior aequi Charior regi quo quisque potentior extat Sentiet à prauis se tanto odiosius iri Dente Theonino rosum quod fortè latenter Fiet occultè linguae ne sentiatictum Laethalem donec stamen trux Atropos occet Et vi Parcarum coenum voluatur in imum ¶ The seuentéenth of October king Edward came from Hampton court to his place in Southworke and there dined and after dinner he made maister Yorke one of the shiriffes knight and then rode thorough the citie to Westminster The lord maior of London for this yeare named sir Rowland Hill was a man of great charitie and compassion euident and effectuall testimonies whereof he hath left in the world some of whose good deeds partlie in his remembrance partlie for others example are deseruedlie recorded This man caused to be made a causeie commonlie called Ouerlane pauement in the high waie from Stone to Nantwich in length foure miles for horsse and man with diuerse lanes on both sides the same causeie He caused likewise a causeie to be made from Dunchurch to Bransen in Warwikeshire more than two miles of length and gaue twentie pounds in monie towards the making of Roitton bridge thrée miles from Couentrie He made the high waie to Kilborne néere to London He made foure bridges two of them of stone conteining eighteene arches in them both the one ouer the riuer of Seuerne called Achambridge the other Ternebridge for that the water of Terne runneth vnder it the other two of timber at Stoke and built a good part of Stoke church He builded one notable frée schoole at Draiton in Shropshire with maister and vsher and sufficient stipends for them both besides conuenient lodgings for the same He also purchased a frée faire to the said towne with a frée market wéekelie also a frée market for castell euerie fouretéene daies He gaue to the hospitall of Christs church in London in his life time fiue hundred pounds in readie monie and a hundred pounds at his deceasse But now to returne to other dooings Whilest these hurls and tumults were in hand to the danger of the whole state the wars against the Scots were nothing followed according to the former purposed meaning of the councell so that it seemed necessarie to giue ouer the kéeping of Hadington the same
the conestables of England pag. 869. Richard Plantagenet third sonne to Richard duke of Yorke was conestable of England and gouernour of the person of the king of whome is more spoken in my discourse of the conestables of England pag. 869. But here mentioning the conestables of England I thinke it better now than not at all to mention also some imperfection and default in my former discourse of the said conestables set downe by me before in pag. 865. Which default of mine in that place grew by reason of ouermuch hast which I vsed in sudden seeking for the same whereby according to the old prouerbe I brought foorth a blind whelpe For in the former description I haue omitted diuerse the which were conestables of England the names of which were Henrie the first in the life of his father Nigellus and Robert de Oilie with others of that line in descent which Nigellus I can not as yet learne to be anie other but Nigellus de Oilie brother to Robert de Oilie that came in with the Conqueror who gaue Oxfordshire vnto the said Robert Besides which if it shall séeme to anie that I haue in my former treatise rashlie written I know not what that here I make Henrie the first conestable in his father the Conquerors time by contrarietie therevnto did before make Walter conestable also in the Conquerors and William Rufus his time let them know that there is no contrarietie herein For Walter might first be conestable then Henrie the first and both they in the Conquerors time this office being taken from the first and giuen to the latter by the Conqueror After whose death William Rufus might take it from his brother Henrie bicause he would not make him too great in England for doubt least he might hereby put the crowne in hazard being fauoured of the people as one borne in England and for that cause might restore that office to Walter Againe it maie be that some men reading that I haue before set downe that Mawd the empresse gaue the conestableship to Milo the son of Walter in the sixt of king Stephan and that king Stephan tooke that office from Milo in the first yere of his reigne and gaue it to Walter Beauchampe will condemne me therefore of like vnaduised writing bicause it seemeth thereby that Stephan tooke it from Milo before that Milo had it Which is not so for I can proue with some reason and authoritie that Milo had it a little before the death of king Henrie the first and also after his death in part of the first yeare of king Stephan being witnesse to a deed by king Stephan made and dated the first of his reigne to which he subscribed his name Milo Constabularius After which king Stephan might in that yeare take that office from him and so he did Which Mawd the empresse vnderstanding and finding Milo now fallen from king Stephan one which assisted hir she the better to confront Stephan gaue the conestableship to Milo accounting hir selfe as quéene in the sixt of Stephan This being thus spoken in defense of that which before I haue written pag. 866. let vs go to our other line 10 matter concerning the conestables not mentioned before in the said discourse wherein I find my selfe in a maruellous laberinth out of which I doubt that the best antiquaries cannot loose themselues no not he which thinketh and saith that he can controll all men for I suppose he will be lame in this matter how all these could be conestables vnlesse that in the time of Henrie the first and of king Stephan as it is most likelie there was chopping changing putting in and taking out setting vp and pulling downe line 20 one man in diuerse yeares of one and the selfe same king for king Stephan was sometime a king and sometime as no king and then againe a king And so likewise was it with Mawd the empresse at the same time bearing hir selfe sometime as queene and then deiected as no quéene But be it as it will be I will here set downe what I find in ancient charters and pedegrées touching the conestables of England not before mentioned leauing the same to others either to order for succession of time or to amend for line 30 truth of matter who peraduenture reading these things which I haue seene and will here set downe can bestow them in better order than I can which I earnestlie praie them to doo whereby truth maie be brought to light and perfection which as yet touching these conestables set downe in this place séemeth to be obscured and confused vntill the time that Roger Fitz Miles had that office for from his time the same is without all controuersie sufficientlie knowne Wherefore here before I enter into the descent line 40 of the de Oilies who were conestables of England I will set downe a strange note of thrée persons witnesses to a déed dated Primo Stephani anno Dom. 1136 who doo all subscribe their names as conestables Which charter being the same wherein king Stephan gaue the manor of Sudton or Sutton to the house of Winchester the same was amongst other witnesses thus signed Robertus de Veer constabularius Milo constabularius Brientius filius comitis constabularius all who could not be conestables of England at line 50 one time Wherfore sauing correction I suppose that it is out of all controuersie that neither the first nor the last of these three were conestables of England but of some other places as of Douer or other castels And so to that which I haue further to saie of the kings conestables in one descent and succession of the de Oilies being tearmed the kings conestables both in ancient charters and pedegrées whereof Nigellus before mentioned séemeth to be one This Nigellus was conestable of England in the line 60 yeare of our redemption one thousand one hundred and one being the first yéere of king Henrie the first as may appeare by a déed of confirmation made by Henrie the first touching the cathedrall church of Norwich whereof I thinke good to saie somewhat to bring in the proofe that this Nigellus was constable This church was built for the most part in the time of William Rufus by Herebert de Losinga the first bishop of Norwich who translated the sée from Tetford vnto Norwich in the yeare of Christ 1094 which church being finished and consecrated to the holie trinitie was afterward confirmed by Henrie the first and Mawd his wife in the first yeare of the said Henrie being the yeare of our redemption 1101 to the charter whereof signed by king Henrie Mawd his wife were manie bishops noblemen and abbats witnesses amongst whome are these two set downe Nigellus Constabularius and Rogerus Cancellarius of which Nigellus thus writeth Leland in his commentaries on the song of the swan in the word Isidis insulae Erat Roberto frater Nigellus nomine de quo fam◠non admodum multa refert
at to bring them vnder Coram wherein said he if they had followed my aduise then had they doone well and wiselie This or much like was the effect of the shamelesse and tyrannicall excuse of himselfe more méete to speake with the voice of a beast than of a man Although in this parlement some diuersitie there was of iudgement and opinion betwéene parties yet notwithstanding through the mercifull goodnesse of the Lord the true cause of the gospell had the vpper hand the papists hope was frustrat and their rage abated the order and procéedings of king Edwards time concerning religion was reuiued againe the supremasie of the line 10 pope abolished the articles and bloudie statutes of queene Marie repealed bréeflie the furious fierbrands of cruell persecution which had consumed so manie poore mens bodies were now extinct and quenched Moreouer in the time of this parlement a motion was made by the common house that the queenes maiestie might be sued vnto to grant hir graces licence to the speaker knights citizens burgesses to haue accesse vnto hir graces presence to declare line 20 vnto hir matter of great importance concerning the state of this hir graces realme The which petition being mooued to hir grace she most honorablie agréed and consented therevnto and assigned a daie of hearing When the daie came the speaker common house resorted vnto hir graces palace at Westminster called the White hall And in the great gallerie there hir grace most honorablie shewed hir selfe readie to heare their motion and petition And when the speaker had solemnlie and eloquentlie set foorth line 30 the message the principall matter wherof most speciallie was to mooue hir grace to marriage whereby to all our comforts we might inioie as Gods pleasure should be the roiall issue of hir bodie to reigne ouer vs c. The quéenes maiestie after a little pause made this answer following as néere as I could beare the same awaie saith Grafton The queenes answer to the former line 40 motion of the parlement house AS I haue good cause so doo I giue to you my hartie thanks for the good zeale and care that you séeme to haue as well toward me as to the whole state of your countrie Your petition I gather to be grounded on thrée causes and mine answer to the same shall consist in two parts And for the first I saie vnto you line 50 that from my years of vnderstanding knowing my selfe a seruitor of almightie God I chose this kind of life in which I doo yet liue as a life most acceptable vnto him wherin I thought I could best serue him and with most quietnesse doo my duetie vnto him From which my choise if either ambition of high estate offered vnto me by marriages whereof I haue records in this presence the displeasure of the prince the eschewing the danger of mine enimies or the auoiding the perill of death whose messenger the line 60 princes indignation was no little time continuallie present before mine eies by whose meanes if I knew or doo iustlie suspect I will not now vtter them or if the whole cause were my sister hir selfe I will not now charge the dead could haue drawen or dissuaded me I had not now remained in this virgins estate wherein you sée me But so constant haue I alwaies continued in this my determination that although my words and youth maie seeme to some hardlie to agrée togither yet it is true that to this daie I stand frée from anie other meaning that either I haue had in times past or haue at this present In which state and trade of liuing wherewith I am so throughlie acquainted God hath so hitherto preserued me and hath so watchfull an eie vpon me and so hath guided me and led me by the hand as my full trust is he will not suffer me to go alone The maner of your petition I doo like and take in good part for it is simple and conteineth no limitation of place or person If it had béene otherwise I must haue misliked it verie much and thought in you a verie great presumption being vnfit and altogither vnméet to require them that may command or those appoint whose parts are to desire or such to bind and limit whose duties are to obeie or to take vpon you to draw my loue to your likings or to frame my will to your fansies A guerdon constreined and a gift fréelie giuen can neuer agrée Neuerthelesse if anie of you be in suspect that whensoeuer it maie please God to incline my hart to that kind of life my meaning is to doo or determine anie thing wherwith the realme maie haue iust cause to be discontented put that out of your heads For I assure you what credence my assurance maie haue with you I can not tell but what credit it shall deserue to haue the sequele shall declare I will neuer in that matter conclude anie thing that shall be preiudiciall vnto the realme For the weale and good safetie whereof as a good mother of my countrie I will neuer shun to spend my life And whomsoeuer my choise maie light vpon he shall be as carefull for the preseruation of the realme as you I will not saie as my selfe for I cannot so certeinlie promise of another as I doo surelie know of my selfe but as anie other can be And albeit it dooth please almightie God to continue me still in this mind to liue out of the state of marriage it is not to be feared but he will so worke in my hart and in your wisdoms that as good prouision may be made in conuenient time wherby the realme shall not remaine destitute of an heire that may be a fit gouernor and peraduenture more beneficiall to the realme than such ofspring as may come of me For though I be neuer so carefull for your well dooings and mind euer so to be yet may mine issue grow out of kind and become vngratious And for me it shall be sufficient that a marble stone declare that a quéene hauing reigned such a time liued and died a virgine To make an end I take your comming to me in good part and giue vnto you eftsoons my hartie thanks more yet for your zeale good will and good meaning than for your message and petition Manie that for feare of persecution in quéene Maries daies were fled the realme and liued in voluntarie exile now that all persecution ceased by the gratious clemencie of this noble princesse quéene Elisabeth they returned with all conuenient spéed home into their natiue countrie giuing to almightie God most humble thanks for that his mercifull deliuerance in sending them a gouernor that not onelie permitted libertie of conscience but also was readie to aduance religion and command frée exercise of common praier preaching and administration of the sacraments according to the right institution of the primitiue churches Fridaie the seauentéenth of Februarie one
ciuill dissention and warres that rose betwixt the house of Guise and other of that faction vpon the one side and the prince of Conde and other that tooke part with him on the contrarie side the quéenes maiestie informed how that the duke of Guise and his partakers hauing got into their possession the person of the yoong king vnder pretext of his authoritie sought the subuersion of manie noble men and good subiects of the crowne of line 30 France namelie such as were knowne or suspected to be zealous for a reformation to be had in matters of religion hir maiestie thervpon considering that if their purpose might be brought to effect it was to be doubted that they would not so rest but séeke to set things in broile also within this hir realme of England and other countries néere to them adioining first as one that had euer wished quietnesse rather than the troubles of warre sent ouer sir Henrie Sidneie at that present lord president of Wales line 40 a man of such estimation as his word ought to haue deserued credit to trie if he might doo anie good to bring the parties to some attonement But such wilfull headinesse séemed to rest in some that were chiefe of the one faction that their desire seemed altogither bent to enter into wars Hir maiestie yet hoping the best appointed to send another honourable ambassage which by their wisedoms and good aduise might persuade the parties vnto concord whereby all due line 50 authoritie honor dignitie might be restored to the king and euerie other degree keepe their roomes and places as to them apperteined but all in vaine For this motion of a pacification to be had could take no place neither might the will of the yoong king or of his timorous mother as it then seemed be regarded otherwise than as stood with the pleasure appointment of those that were knowne to be the chiefe authors and furtherers of all those troubles Whilest the quéenes maiestie therefore did thus line 60 trauell in respect of the suertie which hir grace bare to hir welbeloued brother the said king and to the commoditie and quietnesse of both the factions an open iniurie was offered to hir maiestie so as it might appeare what minds they bare towards hir that had thus excluded and refused all offers means to grow to some good and indifferent conclusion of peace For whereas manie merchants as well of London as of Excester and other the west parts of hir realme were soiourning for cause of traffike in diuerse ports and hauens of Britaine and hauing dispatched their businesse and got their lading aboord their ships were readie to hoise vp sailes and to returne each one towards the place from whence hée came they were suddenlie arested their goods seized vpon and they themselues cast in prison and some that in reuenge of such offered iniurie attempted to make resistance were cruellie slaine their ships conueied awaie their goods confiscat without other pretense but onelie that it was said to them that they were Huguenots Neither was this doone by priuat persons but by open violence of the gouernors magistrats of those places where the same disorder was executed so that it appeared from whence they had their commission to vse such wrongfull dealing and how farre the same would extend if they might once haue time and occasion to accomplish their purposed intentions Moreouer when complaint of such iniuries was made vnto the lawfull magistrats there they found no redres at all For what might the poore merchants profit by their plaints when the packets of the ambassadors leters directed to hir maiestie were taken from the bearer no punishment had against those that committed so vnciuill an outrage A thing that offended hir maiestie so much more for that as she tooke the matter there wanted no good will either in the king or his mother or in the king of Nauarre the kings generall lieutenant to sée such a presumptuous and vnrulie part punished of their people but rather that there lacked in them authoritie to haue it redressed Furthermore it greatlie gréeued hir that the yong French king hir déere brother was brought to such a streict that he was nether able to defend the libertie of his people nor the authoritie of his lawes nor to deale vprightlie with other princes and potentats accordinglie as by the bonds of leagues and of couenanted aliances had bene requisite Neither did such disorder in gouernement of the kingdome of France touch anie so much and particularlie as the queens maiestie of England She therefore lamenting that the king and quéene mother should be thus in the hands of them that procured all these troubles and led vp and downe at their pleasures and driuen to behold the spoile and sacking of diuerse his cities and miserable slaughter of his subiects and againe hir grace thinking it expedient to preuent that such as were knowne to beare no good will either to hir or hir realme should not get into their possessions such townes and hauens as laie against the sea coasts of hir said realme whereby they stuffing the same with garrisons and numbers of men of warre might easilie vpon occasions seeke to make inuasions into this hir said realme to the great annoiance of hir and hir louing subiects at the request of the French themselues thought it expedient to put in armor a certeine number of hir subiects to passe ouer into Normandie vnto such hauens as néere approched vnto this hir realme of England as well for the safegard of the same as also for the reliefe and preseruation of the inhabitants there and other that professed the gospell liuing in continuall danger to be murthered and oppressed and therefore crauing hir aid to saue and deliuer them out of the bloudie hands of their cruell aduersaries that sought their hastie destruction For the conduction therefore of such forces as she meant to send ouer at that present she ordeined the lord Ambrose Dudleie earle of Warwike to be hir principall lieutenant capteine generall chiefe leader and gouernor of hir said subiects that should in such wise passe ouer into Normandie Herevpon the said erle the seuenteenth of October in this fourth yeare of hir maiesties reigne tooke shipping at Portesmouth in the hauen there at one a clocke in the after noone being aboord himselfe in the quéens ship called the New barke and setting forward sailed all that after noone and the night following directlie towards Newhauen but in the morning about eight a clocke when his lordship was within twentie miles of the town of Newhauen the wind suddenlie changed cleane contrarie to his course so that being driuen to returne about the next midnight he arriued in the downes and there remained at anchor till about eight of the clocke in the next morning being mondaie and then was set on land by bote at Sandon castell besides Deale and the same daie at night
at that time his viceadmerall seruing in the Aid and Iohn Basing capteine of the Swallow and Thomas Gouarlie capteine of the Phenix met in the narrow seas with fouretéene saile of great hulkes which were come out of Portugall and bound to Flanders their chiefe lading being Portugall salt and yet had good store of Spanish roials of plate and also of good spices The which fourteene hulkes did mainteine their fight for the space of two houres And after that they did perceiue that they could not line 40 preuaile hauing tasted of the ordinance of the queens ships to their great hurt as well in slaughter of their men as also in spoile of their ships the said Holstock and his companie tooke eight of the said hulks wherof six were sent into the riuer of Thames And the admerall and viceadmerall in the said hulks being two great ships which the said Holstocke himselfe did take were caried vnto Harwich and there discharged The eightéenth of March through vehement rage line 50 and tempest of winds manie vessels on the Thames with two tiltbotes before Grauesend were sunke and drowned The six and twentith of Iune deceased Thomas Yoong archbishop of Yorke at the manour of Sheffield and was honourablie buried at Yorke The eleuenth of October were taken in Suffolke at Downam bridge neere vnto Ipswich seuentéene monstrous fishes some of them conteining seuen and twentie foot in length the other foure and twentie or one and twentie foot at the least At the costs line 60 and charges of the citizens of London a new conduit was built at Walbrooke corner neere to Dowgate which was finished in the moneth of October the water whereof is conueied out of the Thames The seuen and twentith of Ianuarie Philip Mestrell a Frenchman and two Englishmen were drawne from Newgate to Tiburne and there hanged the Frenchman quartered who had coined gold counterfeit the Englishmen the one had clipped siluer the other cast testons of tin The eight and twentith of March the pensioners well appointed in armor on horsbacke mustered before the queenes maiestie in Hide parke beside Westminster A great lotterie being holden at London in Poules church yard at the west doore was begun to be drawne the eleuenth of Ianuarie and continued daie and night till the sixt of Maie wherein the said drawing was fullie ended Sir Thomas Ro lord maior of London caused to be inclosed with a wall of bricke nigh one acre of ground néere vnto Bedlem without Bishops gate to be a place of buriall for the dead of such parishes in London as lacked conuenient ground within their said parishes ¶ On the southside whereof ouer a folding gate this inscription is grauen in stone in great letters Thomas Ro miles cùm praetor esset Londinensis hunc locum Reipublicae in vsum publicae sepulturae communem suo sumptu dedicauit Anno Domini 1569. Which writing I haue here recorded for that in viewing the same I saw some of the letters defaced and vtterlie made awaie which in time might likewise befall to the residue and so the memorie of the gentleman there fixed to so good an end vanish and die He also of a godlie motion builded a conuenient roome in Pauls churchyard on the southside of the crosse to receiue a certeine number of hearers at the sermon time as may appeare by some remembrances of his name there fixed Howbeit this gentleman thus well disposed and like inough to haue procéeded in more such godlie actions was called out of this life the next yeare immediatlie following forgoing all the pompe of this life with no lesse good will than he was forward by death to passe to eternall rest His bodie was buried in Hacknie church in the southside of the chancell where besides a monument of himselfe and his wife this epitaph remaineth to be read in faire great letters as followeth An. 1570. Septemb. 2. Sir Thomas Ro lieth buried heare Of London knight and alderman Who late was maior and rule did beare To right the cause of euerie man A merchant venturer was he Of merchant tailors companie A citizen by birth also And eke his wife dame Marie Ro. In wedlocke one and thirtie yeare They did continue man and wife Eleuen children she did beare But fiue of them haue left this life And six aliue doo yet remaine Foure of them sons and daughters twaine His soule with God we hope is blest And dooth remaine in Abrams brest A standing watch on S. Iohns euen at Midsummer and sir Iohn White alderman rode the circuit as the lord maior should haue doone The seuen and twentith of August Andrew Gregorenich Sauin ambassador from Muscouie landed at the tower wharfe and was there receiued by the lord maior of London the aldermen and shiriffes in scarlet with the merchants aduenturers in cotes of blacke veluet all on horssebacke who conueied him riding through the citie to the Muscouie house in Seding lane there to be lodged The plague of pestilence somewhat raging in the citie of London Michaelmas terme was first adiourned vnto the third of Nouember and after to Hilarie terme next following The eleuenth of October Thomas Howard duke of Norffolke was brought from Burnam beside Windsore by land to Westminster and from thence by water to the tower of London prisoner sir Henrie Neuill being his kéeper This yeare the lord maior of London went by water to Westminster and there tooke his oth as hath béene accustomed but kept no feast at the Guildhall least through comming togither of so great a multitude infection of the pestilence might haue increased That wéeke from the one and twentith vnto the eight and twentith of October there died in the citie and out parishes of all diseases one hundred fiftie and two of the which one and fiftie were accounted to die of the plague On thursdaie the ninth of Nouember Thomas Persie erle of Northumberland receiued the queens maiesties letters to repaire to the court And the same night other conspirators perceiuing him to be wauering and vnconstant of promise made to line 10 them caused a seruant of his called Beckwith after he was laid in his bed to bustle in and to knocke at his chamber doore willing him in hast to arise and shift for himselfe for that his enimies whome he termed to be sir Oswold Ulstrop and maister Uaughan were about the parke and had béeset him with great numbers of men Wherevpon he arose conueied himselfe awaie to his kéepers house In the same instant they caused the bels of the towne to be roong backeward and so raised as manie as they line 20 could to their purpose The next night the earle departed thense to Branspith where he met with Charls earle of Westmerland and the other confederats Then by sundrie proclamations they abusing manie of the queens subiects commanded them in hir highnesse name to
déepe in the shallowest and otherwise being driuen by the wind verie boisterous in the northeast on banks one ell or a yard a half déepe In the which drifts of snow farre deeper in the countrie manie cattell and some men and women were ouerwhelmed and lost It snowed till the eight daie of that moneth and frised till the tenth and then followed a â—haw with continuall raine a long time after which caused such high waters and great flouds that the marishes and low grounds being drowned for the time and the water of the Thames rose so high into Westminster hall that after the fall thereof some fishes were found to remaine in the said hall The seuentéenth of Februarie an Irishman for murdering of a man in a garden of Stepenheth parish was hanged in chaines on the common called Mile end gréene This common was sometimes yea in the memorie of men yet liuing a large mile long from White chappell to Stepenheth church and therefore called Mile end greene but now at this present by gréedie and as séemeth to me vnlawfull inclosures and building of houses notwithstâ—nding hir maiesties proclamation to the contrarie it remaineth scarse halfe a mile in length The twentith daie of Februarie deceased sir Nicholas Bacon lord kéeper of the great seale of England who was honourablie buried vnder a sumptuous monument or toome by him in his life time erected in S. Pauls church of London on the ninth daie of March This sir Nicholas Bacon in his life time gaue for six scholers to be found in Bennets college in Cambridge to each of them three pounds six shillings and eight pence the yeare for euer ¶ The said sir Nicholas Bacons toome aforesaid bearing certeine representations of his wiues and children in imagerie worke is adorned with a notable epitaph wherein is pithilie described the meanes whereby he grew to be noble as also immortall The same being conteined in these verses following and iustifiable by the verie epitaph whereof this is a true transcription great pitie but it shuld be perpetuall Hic Nicolaum ne Baconum conditum Existima illum tam diu Britannici Regni secundum columen exitium malis line 10 Bonis asylum caeca quem non extulit Ad hunc honorem sors sed aequitas fides Doctrina pietas vnica prudentia Non morte raptum crede qui vnica Vita perennes emerit duas agit Vitam secundam coelites inter animus Fama implet orbem vita quae illi tertia est Hac positum in ara est corpus olim animi domus Ara dicata sempiternae memoriae This yeare in the moneth of Aprill to wit on the line 20 foure and twentith daie fell such a snow betwéene the hours of foure of the clocke in the morning nine of the clocke before noone of the same daie that in London the same snow was found to lie one foot déepe The 25 daie of Aprill sir Thomas Bromleie knight was made lord chancellor of England The chancellors of England collected out of sundrie ancient line 30 histories THe creation of this sir Thomas Bromleie lord chancellor hath occasioned me to treate of the chancellors of England a matter which I haue béene the willinger to set downe because I would minister cause to others who haue long wanted of their cunning in this matter to impart to the world some of their great knowledge herein to the benefit of their countrie But since I doubt that they will line 40 not accept this in good part till that come And as I may perhaps doo in this somewhat more largelie than in the iudgement of others shall seeme answerable to the most receiued opinion touching the chancellors treat of the antiquitie of them so yet I haue no mind to erre or to leade anie other into error Wherefore if things be not in perfection vpon this first rough hewing as nothing is at the first so exquisit as time dooth not after amend it yet disdaine it not sith this may giue more light than line 50 before was knowen And I determine God willing either to amend or to confesse and auoid in the large description of their liues whatsoeuer imperfections haue now distilled out of my pen either for mistaking or misplacing of name person or time and so to the matter It hath beene some question amongst the best antiquaries of our age that there were neuer anie chancellors in England before the comming of Edward the confessor out of Normandie whome they line 60 suppose to haue brought the same officer with him from thense into this realme But sith I am with manie reasons and ancient authorities led to beleue the contrarie I will imbrace the contrarie opinion therevnto and hold in this discourse as the order thereof shall prooue that there were chancellors before saint Edwards time for the confirmation whereof and for the authoritie of them for the etymologie and originall of the name and for the continuance of their office thou shalt find an ample discourse in my booke purposelie written of the liues of the chancellors whervnto I wholie refer thée who I hope shall within these few yeares be partaker thereof and in the meane time giue thee this tast of the age and names of the chancellors and vicechancellors and such keepers of the great seale as serued in place of chancellors For euerie one that was kéeper of the great seale was not intituled chancellor no more than euerie chancellor was intituled the keeper of the greatseale But because the one did serue in the vacancie of the other so that after a certeine sort the kéeper of the great seale was vicechancellor and possessed the place though not the name of a chancellor as in our age sir Nicholas Bacon did we therefore haue set downe the names of the one and the other as they followed in succession of time after this manner Turketill chancellor to Ethelbald who began his reigne about the yeare of Christ 718 which Turketill gaue six manours to the abbeie of Croâ—land as I haue séene noted Saint Swithin bishop of Winchester was chancellor and chiefe of councell to the great monarch king Egbert though some attribute him to Edgar which Egbert began his reigne about the yeare of Christ 802. Wlfinus chancellor to king Athelstan who began his reigne in the yeare of our redemption nine hundred and foure and twentie Adulphus chancellor to king Edgar who began his reigne in the yeare that the world became flesh nine hundred fiftie and nine of this man speaketh Hugo Petro Burgensis and Leland calleth this Adulph Cancellarium archigrammatum chancellor or chiefe secretarie Alsius or Aelsius the second abbat of Elie chancellor to king Etheldred who began his reigne in the yeare of Christ nine hundred seuentie and eight this man being by Ethelwold bishop of Winchester consecrated abbat at the appointment of the said king Ethelred or Egelred
the shooting was verie excellent consent of melodie within the mount And after that was store of pretie scaling ladders and the footmen threw floures and such fansâ—es against the wals with all such deuises as might seeme fit shot for desire All which did line 10 continue till time the defendants came in Then came in the defendants in most sumptuous maner with euerie one his seruants pages and trumpetters hauing some more some lesse in such order as I haue here vnderplaced them with euerie one his sundrie inuention which for that some of them be mysticall and not knowne to manie I omit therefore for breuities sake to speake of anie Yet such spéeches as were spoken or presented for them to hir maiestie so manie as were or at the least as line 20 I could come by I haue here in their order placed them whereby their inuentions for whome they were spoken are therein plainelie declared Therefore I referre you to the reading of them hereafter But thus the defendants entered the tiltyard one after an other as followeth First maister Henrie Greie sir Thomas Perot maister Anthonie Cooke maister Thomas Ratcliffe maister Henrie Knolles maister William Knolles maister Robert Knolles maister Francis Knolles maister Rafe Bowes line 30 maister Thomas Kelwaie master George Goring maister William Tresham maister Robert Alexander maister Edward Dennie maister Hercules Meautus maister Edward Moore maister Richard Skipwith maister Richard Ward maister Edward Digbie maister Henrie Nowell maister Henrie Brunkerd And afterwards in the middest of the running came in sir Henrie Leigh as vnknowne and when he had broken his six staues went out in like maner againe So passing on one after line 40 an other when sir Thomas Perot maister Cooke came to the end of the tilt ouer against the quéenes maiestie one of their pages arraied like an angell vttered these spéeches vnto hir Despaire no not despaire most high and happie princesse could so congeale the frozen knight in the aier but that desire ah swéet desire inforced him to behold the sun on the earth whereon as he was gazing with twinkling eie for who can behold such beames stedfastlie he begun to dissolue into drops line 50 melting with such delight that he séemed to preferre the lingering of a certeine death before the lasting of an vncerteine life Such is the nature of ingrauen loialtie that it chooseth rather to haue the bodie dissolued than the mind disliked Thus consuming with content a swéet sickenesse is conceipt and pining with more than speakeable passions he suddenlie beheld that sun to be besieged which he so deuoutlie serued Wherewith boiling in no lesse disdaine than surprised with immoderat pensâ—uenesse he vttered these line 60 words O Ioue if thou meane to resolue nature into contraries why doo I liue to sée it If into nothing why doo I liue at all If the foot scale the head there is no rest if desire ouershoot dutie there is no reason and where either of these are there can be no rule And so setting more sighs than maie be numbred by ciphers this present time ah griefe this present time that honest faire hearted frozen knight died what said I euen that which againe with griefe I must say died whose ghost making speedie passage into the Elisian fields for what more swift than a soule in the midst of the infernall multitude with schréeches cries clamors made both heauen hell to redouble this eccho O times O men O corruption of maners The sun is besieged the sun O mischiefe the sun is besieged Which strange and vnacquainted termes caused not onelie murmuring amongst the ghosts beneath but a musing amongst the gods aboue who as well to represse the tumults which might haue risen among the shadows as to reuenge the pride which began to grow on the earth sent downe an angell with this commandement Go descend and cause Adam and Eue to appeare on the earth in that sort as they were in paradise that the world may know them woonder at them For seeing out of their loinâ—s haue issued those preposterous limmes I know none more fit to correct them Certes none more willing They will attempt anie thing for thy sake and seruice of that earthlie and yet O strange conceipt most heauenlie sun For as they were before driuen from their desire bicause they desired to know the best so now shall they bâ— driuen vnto their desire which they couet to honour most This shall be their reward they shall come néere and yet shall not search and be they farre off it shall warme A cloud maie sometimes barre their sight but nothing shall depriue them of the safegard yet command them to be humble in affection though feruent least they séeme to disdaine that pride in others which they desire themselues The sun in the highest delighteth in the shadow which is shortest nourisheth the tree whose root groweth déepest not whose top springeth loftiest This commission and counsell ended all things were in a moment accomplished with such celeritie for to the gods time is tied that they were sped so soone as they were spoken And now most renowmed and diuine sun Adam and Eue being present vouchsafe to heare somwhat in their behalfs pronounced Sir knights if in beséeging the sunne ye vnderstood what you had vndertaken ye would not destroie a common blessing for a priuat benefit Will you subdue the sun Who shall rest in the shadow where the wearie take breath the disquiet rest and all comfort Will ye bereue all men of those glittering gladsome beams What shall then prosper in the shining but you will clime it by the raies O rare exhalations Brothers you may be to desire but sons ye are to ill hap which thinke you can not sinke déepe inough into the sea vnlesse you take your fall from the sun Desist you knights desist sith it is impossible to resist content your selues with the sunnes indifferent succor suffer the inniper shrub to grow by the loftie oke and clame no prerogatiue where the sun grants no priuilege for being of the same mettall that others are the sun will worke the like effects as she doth in others The giants would haue bin gods if they could haue scaled the heauens and you no lesse than stars could you conquer the same but as their throwing hill vpon hill did manifest their pride but nothing further their pretense so your laieng chalenge vpon claime and conquest vpon chalenge may well proue a will but no worthinesse a desire to reach but no possibilitie to recouer In which your soaring assaies if you chance to fall the only comfort you haue is to crie with Phaeton Magnis excidimus ausis But if no persuasions may mooue your minds know yée proud knights there are that haue hearts as big as mounteins and as far aboue you in prowesse as ye are aboue all in presumption yet not so vaine which ye terme valiant to
would be one of the formost in executing of this villanous and most traitorous action By this you may perceiue that the death of hir maiestie and ouerthrow of this realme was throughlie agréed vpon and fullie determined there wanted nothing but opportunitie for preests both then and after came ouer continuallie to further it so much as in them laie To the said effect did A. M. vtter most odious matter the reading whereof would make anie true English hart quake tremble and to write it what loiall subiect is able to abide And therefore as deriued from the diuell to his dearlings we omit the same counting it more loialtie to â—ull such deuises and consultations asléepe than to publish them to the world in blâ—cke white due reuerence to the principall obiects alwaies reserued All which abhominable stuffe circumstances of times places persons and other particulars dulie pondered giue euident demonstration what affection these fellowes affoord their lawfull queene and countrie well is he that can imagine most against hir maiestie and highlie is he esteemed that beareth the most traitorous hart to hir Yet Campion and the rest of his fellowes they plead ignorance in all these causes they bolster vp one another with large protestations railing words and subtill surnuses affirming that they were not sent hither for anie such intent which is as vntrue as we know it for truth that the Lord God liueth in heauen For this I am able to saie my selfe that at diuerse other times it was whispered among them in the seminarie that shortlie there should be préests appointed for England to win the people against the appointed time when as a great armie should be readie to ioine with them and Campion who was then at Praga in Bohemia he was spoken of amongst them all to be a rare and singular fellow and therefore generallie was taken for a méet man to be sent about such a message so that they iudged that he should be sent for to be a chiefe man in this matter Well saith Campion it may be they had such an opinion of me which in my selfe I find not to be deserued and it may be that I was appointed to be sent into England according as those other preests were for the sauing of soules and benefit of my countrie must it follow then that we are sent to practise the death of the quéene and to seeke the ruine of our countrie Alas this is a hard case and I desire you of the iurie to marke it for these are but shadowes without anie substance This you are to note that we which enter into that Blessed societie of the Iesuites we doo as it were forsake the world vowing our selues to chastitie and sinceritie of conscience to obeie our superiours and to be readie to go whither they shall appoint vs. If they send vs to the Indies or to anie such places where the people haue not the true catholike faith we are bound by dutie in conscience to go whither they appoint vs. And shall it then be said that we come for the destruction of the prince and countrie where we settle our selues Alas that were a hard case for christian charitie willeth vs to comfort one another and if we can to get the shéepe into the fold which hath long run astraie And when we heare confession we doo not persuade them to anie disobedience for that is against the nature of confession God forbid that we should once thinke anie such thing Behold the subtill shifts that he found out still to flie vnto yea though the manifest disproofe laie before them yet would he find some cauill or other for not onelie the euidence of their generall determination beyond the seas was shewed them but also the traitorous articles were there read vnto them which Iohn Hart had copied out for doctor Allen concerning the procéeding of these traitorous causes and for which he went purposelie to Rome to confer with the pope about and subscribed vnto that they were certeine and true as also their owne confessions and writings were laid open before them approouing them notablie guiltie of the matters aforesaid and yet in their lieng pamâ—hlets scattered here there in sundry hands they haue faces of brasse to report that Insidiae sanctos implicuere viros Charles Sled who sometime serued master doctor Morton in Rome in whose house there was manie matters determined both by doctor Allen when he came to Rome and diuers other doctors liuing there in the citie as also diuerse of the seminarie he likewise vnderstood of the prouision for the great daie that it was generallie spoken of among the Englishmen and to be more certeine he kept a iournall or booke of their dailie dealings noting the daie time place and persons present at their secret conferences and verie much matter hath he iustified against them One Cradocke a merchant when he line 10 was in Rome he vnderstood the aforesaid determination and how that doctor Shelleie the English prior who is a knight of the Rhodes for that he somewhat spake against such crueltie to be vsed to his natiue countrie was somewhat misliked of himselfe and had almost béene turned out of his office And this aforesaid Cradocke being in prison there for the space of twentie moneths and more it was said to him that he might account himselfe blessed of God that he was there bicause he should not sée the grieuous line 20 ruine of his natiue countrie He that hath but halfe an eie may sée how these matters concord and agrée togither and noting euerie thing as it lieth may plainelie sée their horrible and traitorous deuises And further there was a little booke in Latine which they themselues brought ouer with them it was there openlie read vnto them wherin was certeine rules and orders prescribed how they should behaue themselues here in England and how if line 30 they were demanded of anie thing they should make answer indirectlie or to take the word it selfe according as it is mentioned in the booke they must answer Sophisticè whereby is meant as thus If they be examined as concerning their allegiance to hir maiestie they will make their answer after this maner She is our lawfull souereigne ladie quéene and we obeie hir But then obiect vnto them Will you obeie hir notwithstanding the popes exommunication or anie thing that he commandeth to the line 40 contrarie Then will they answer We desire you not to charge our consciences and that you would not enter so deepe into our consciences we trust the pope will not command vs anie thing against hir a hundred such like sléeuelesse answers they make neuer agréeing to anie certeintie but holding the pope in more reuerence than they doo hir maiestie For this consideration they carrie with them that if by their shew of humilitie their deuised order of craftie answering they might mooue our magistrats line 50
verie glad when they vnderstood of your highnesse happie arriuall in the I le of Walkeren as they haue caused to be verie largelie and with all humilitie and reuerence shewed vnto you by their deputies sent to your highnesse for the same purpose But now forsomuch as they sée your highnesse not onelie arriued in the countrie of Brabant but also receiued for duke and for their prince and lord their fore-conceiued ioie is greatlie increased and made fullie perfect trusting that by this your comming there will once insue an end of the desolations calamities and miseries whereinto the countrie hath béene brought by the vniust gouernement past and by the more vniust and wrongfull warre which the enimies hold yet still to bring the whole countrie to destruction with all maner of calamities and oppressions which they are able to deuise And therfore they giue your highnesse most humble thanks for the paines trauell which you haue vouchsafed to take to come into this countrie yeelding infinitelie like thanks vnto God for that he hath giuen sent them such a prince as not onelie is of abilitie and power but also is verie willing and well disposed to defend them from all enimies to rule and gouerne them with all good policie iustice according to the priuileges lawes and customs of the countrie For although they be ioined in league with the rest of the states of Brabant and generallie with all the states of the low countries that they haue all entred into armes iointlie togither yet their so dooing hath not béene to exempt and withdraw themselues from the iust gouernement of their lord and prince but onlie to mainteine their ancient liberties lawes and priuileges that being gouerned according to the same they might liue with all dutifull obedience in good rest peace and tranquillitie The full accomplishment of which their desires they thinke themselues to haue most happilie obteined sith it hath pleased God of his infinit grace mercie to put into your highnesse heart to take vpon you the souereigntie of these low countries the dukedome of Brabant the citie of Antwerpe and the marquesship of the sacred empire For séeing that God hath stirred them vp so great a prince the brother of a mightie king they haue no doubt at all but that your highnesse will by Gods grace soone find means to deliuer these countries from the wretched warres wherein they haue béene so long plunged The markegraue amptman boroughmaisters skepons and other members of this citie thinke it not expedient to repeat the causes of the warre and the equitie of the case whereon they stand forsomuch as it hath diuerse times heretofore béene discussed largelie enough by the generall estates and moreouer béene notablie knowne to the world and manie waies allowed by your highnesse Yet againe therfore with all humble submission and reuerence they thanke your highnesse that it hath pleased you to agree vnto them and to promise the maintenance of their priuileges lawes and customs yea and of the articles comprised in the principall composition and in the ioifull entrance into the dutchie of Brabant assuring your highnesse that the people of the citie of Antwerpe and of the marquesship of the holie empire shall be and continue right humble subiects to you euen to the spending of their bodies goods and whatsoeuer else they be able to make for the increasing of your honour and glorie Herevnto his highnesse answered verie gratiouslie that he thanked those noblemen for their good will and affection towards him and that he meant to shew them by his dooings how desirous he was to gouerne and rule the countrie with good policie and iustice And all this he did at large and with verie great grace This doone the said Uanderwerke turning himselfe to the people cried with a lowd voice that his highnesse as duke of Brabant Alanson Aniou Berreie c would be sworne to the citie of Antwerpe and the marquesship of the sacred empire desiring them to praie vnto God that by that so good and solemne deed Gods name might be sanctified the safetie and prosperitie of the countrie procured and the honour and glorie of the said duke increased Then was the oth which his highnesse should take read openlie to the people in the Flemmish toong by the same Uanderwercke Which being doone monsieur the amptman read the same oth to his highnesse in French and his highnesse made and performed the same in his hands which the boroughmaster of the towne of Antwerpe held vp bicause the receiuing of the oth at his hand belonged vnto him Also the said boroughmaster whose name was sir Philip of Schoonehouen knéeling downe before the dukes highnesse at the same time gaue him a gilt keie in token of subiection and that he might dispose line 10 of the citie as of his owne which keie was deliuered againe by his highnes to the boroughmaster to whome he said verie gratiouslie that he assured himselfe that the said boroughmaster and all the burgesses and inhabitants of the citie would kéepe the citie faithfullie for him as they had doone vntill that instant After the finishing and accomplishment of all the said solemnities the heralds of Brabant and Lotricke or in the vulgar Brabant Wallon Lothier line 20 that is to saie Lotharing or the true Lorraine cried with a lowd voice God saue the duke of Brabant And then sounding the trumpets they made a largesse casting a great sort of péeces of gold and siluer among the standers by These péeces were of two sorts the one sort had on the one side the image of the monsieur then duke of Brabant the other sort had on the one side the armes of Aniou Brabant and about the verges was written Francis of line 30 France duke of Brabant On the otherside of them all was a deuise of the sunne with the monsieurs owne inscription Cheriseth and Chaseth which is the monsieurs ordinarie posie Without the towne were three regiments of the citizens to the number of a thrée thousand men in order of battell who made a goodlie shew with their faire armours and their ensignes displaied And they neuer went out of their place vntill all the ceremonies were dispatched and that his highnesse was gone into the citie Besides line 40 these there was an infinit number of people in the citie whereof manie were strangers who maruelled greatlie at these sights and especiallie the Frenchmen who woondered to see their master in that apparell and spake diuerslie of it as is woont to be doone in matters that are new and erst vnséene But when they vnderstood how it was the dukelie apparell and that he wore it as a representation of antiquitie the like whereof is worne yet still by the electors of the sacred empire in their great ceremonies they were astonished and thought him to be a prince of more line 50 statelie countenance and maiestie than afore in somuch
they did Or giue power to doctor Sanders a naturall borne 〈◊〉 but an vnnaturall worne priest to take armes and moue warres as he did in Ireland Fourthlie whether the pope may discharge the subiects of hir maiestie or of anie other princes christened of their oths of obedience Fiftlie whether the said traitorous priest doctor Sanders or one Bristow a rebellious fugitiue did in their bookes writâ— trulie or falslie in approuing the said bull of line 30 〈…〉 and the contents thereof Lastlie what were to be doone if the pope or anie other assigned by 〈◊〉 would inuade the realme of England and what part they would take or what part anie faithfull subiect of hir maiesties ought to take To these few questions verie apt to trie the truth or falshood of any such seditious persons being iustlie before condemned for their disloialtie these lewd vnarmed traitors I say would in no wise answer directlie herto as all other faith full subiects to anie christian prince ought line 40 to doo And as they by refusall to answer directlie to these questions onelie might haue béene iustlie conuinced as guiltie of treason so yet were they not therevpon condemned but vpon all their other former actions committed both abroad in the relme which were no lesse traitorous than the actions of all other the spies and traitors and of Iudas himselfe afore remembred which had no armor nor weapon and yet at all times ought to be adiudged traitors For these disguised persons called scholers or priests hauing line 50 beene first conuersant of long time with the traitors beyond the sea in all their conspiracies came hither by stealth in time of war and rebellion by commandement of the capitall enimie the pope or his legats to be secret espials and explorers in the realme for the pope to deliuer by secret Romish tokens as it were an earnest or prest to them that should be in readines to ioine with rebels or open enimies and in like sort with their hallowed baggages from Rome to line 60 poison the senses of the subiects powring into their hearts malicious and pestilent opinions against hir maiestie and the lawes of the realme and also to kindle and set on fire â—he hearts of discontented subiects with the flames of rebellion to search sound the depths and secrets of all mens inward intentions either against hir maiestie or for hir and finaâ—â—ie to bring into a beadroll or as it were into a mâ—â—â—er roll the names and powers with the dwellings of all them that should be readie to rebell and to aid the forreine â—â—uasion These kinds of seditious actions for the seruice of the pope and the traitors and rebels abroad haue made them traitors not their bâ—â—ks nor their â—eads no nor their cakes of ware which they call Agnus Dei nor other their relikes no nor yet their opinions for the ceremonies or rites of the church of Rome and therefore it is to be certeinelie concluded that these did iustlie deserue their capitall punishments as traitors though they were not apprehended with open armour or weapon Now if this latter repetition as it were of all the former causes and reasons afore recited may not serue to stop the boisterous mouthes and the pestifâ—râ—us toongs and venemous breaths of those that are infected with so grosse errors as to defend seditious subiects stirrers of rebellion against their naturall prince and countrie then are they to be left without anie further argument of the almightie God as persons that haue couered their eies against the sunnes light stopped their eares against the sound of iustice and oppressed their hearts against the force of reason and as the psalmist saith They speake lies they are as venemous as the poison of a serpent euen like the deafe adder that stoppeth his eares Wherefore with christian charitie to conclude if these rebels and traitors and their fautors would yet take some remorse and compassion of their naturall countrie and would consider how vaine their attempts haue béene so manie yeares and how manie of their confederats are wasted by miseries and calamities and how none of all their attempts or plats haue prospered and therefore would desist from their vnnaturall practises abroad and if these seminaries secret wanderers and explorators in the darke would imploie their trauels in the works of light and doctrine according to the vsage of their schooles and content themselues with their profession and deuotion and that the remnant of the wicked flocke of the seedmen of sedition would cease from their rebellious false and infamous railings and libellings altogether contrarie to christian charitie there is no doubt by Gods grace hir maiestie being so much giuen to mercie and deuoted to peace but all colour and occasion of shedding the bloud of anie more of hir naturall subiects of this land yea all further bodilie punishment should vtterlie cease Against whose malices if they shall not desist almightie God continue hir maiestie with his spirit and power long to reigne and liue in his feare and to be able to vanquish them all being Gods enimies and especiallie hir rebels and traitors both at home abroad to mainteine preserue all hir naturall good louing subiects to the true seruice of the same almightie God according to his holie word will Manie other things might be remembred for defense of other hir maiesties princelie honorable and godlie actions in sundrie other things wherein also these and the like seditious railors haue of late time without all shame by fained and false libels sought to discredit hir maiestie hir gouernement but at this time these former causes and reasons alleaged by waie of aduertisements onelie for maintenance of truth are sufficient to iustifie hir maiesties actions to the whole world in the cases remembred Magna est veritas prâ—ualet Great is truth and she ouercommeth On the two and twentith of Ianuarie Iohn Watson bishop of Winchester deceased at Woolseie and was buried at Winchester on the sixtéenth daie of Febâ—uarie a man he was well taught by the art which he professed and practised to esteeme this life as it is euen tranâ—itorie verie vaine wherin as men are the further sâ—epf in age so should they be the lesse desirous to liue and take death comming timelie which is when as naturall heate and the moisture radicall are decaied in such good part as nothing more acceptable But who thinkes his death to come timelie but the godlie wise who haue learned that as men haue daies of life decreed so they haue daies of death determined according to the tetrastichon which that famous man Ioachimus Camerarius an excellent man and of singular note made a little before his departing out of this world Morte nihil tempestiua esse optatius aiunt Sed tempestiuam quis putat esse suam Qui putat ille sapit quoniam vt solatia vitae line 10 Sic quisque suae tempora
generall peace of France and thereby vrged the king to forbeare from the resolution he had made not onlie to aid the oppressed people of the low countries against the Spaniards but also to haue accepted them as his owne subiects But in verie truth howsoeuer they were pitied and in a sort for a time comforted kept in hope in France by the French king who also hath oftentimes earnestlie solicited vs as quéene of England both by message and writing to be carefull of their defense yet in respect that they were otherwise more streictlie knit in ancient friendship to this realme than to anie other countrie we are sure that they could be pitied of none for this long time with more cause and griefe generallie than of our subiects of this our realme of England being their most ancient alies and familiar neighbours and that in such manner as this our realme of England and those countries haue béene by common language of long time resembled and termed as man and wife And for these vrgent causes and manie others we haue by manie fréendlie messages and ambassadors by manie letters and writings to the said king of Spaine our brother and alie declared our compassion of this so euill and cruell vsage of his naturall and loiall people by sundrie his martiall gouernors and other his men of warre all strangers to these his countries And furthermore as a good louing sister to him and a naturall good neighbour to his lowe countries and people we haue often and often againe most friendlie warned him that if he did not otherwise by his wisedome and princelie clemencie restreine the tyrannie of his gouernours and crueltie of his men of warre we feared that the people of his countries should be forced for safetie of their liues and for continuance of their natiue countrie in the former state of their liberties to séeke the protection of some other forreine lord or rather to yeeld themselues wholie to the souereigntie of some mightie prince as by the ancient lawes of their countries and by speciall priuileges granted by some of the lords and dukes of the countries to the people they doo pretend and affirme that in such cases of generall iniustice and vpon such violent breaking of their priuileges they are frée from their former homages and at libertie to make choise of anie other prince to be their prince and head The proofe whereof by examples past is to be seene read in the ancient histories of diuerse alterations of the lords and ladies of the countries of Brabant Flanders Holland and Zeland and other countries to them vnited by the states and people of the countries and that by some such alterations as the stories doo testifie Philip the duke of Burgundie came to his title from which the king of Spaines interest is deriued but the further discussion hereof we leaue to the view of the monuments and records of the countries And now for the purposes to staie them from yéelding themselues in anie like sort to the souereigntie of anie other strange prince certeine yéeres past vpon the earnest request of sundrie of the greatest persons of degrée in those countries and most obedient subiects to the king such as were the duke of Ascot and the marquesse of Hauerie yet liuing and of such others as had principall offices in those countries in the time of the emperour Charles we yéelded at their importunat requests to grant them prests of monie onelie to continue them as his subiects and to mainteine themselues in their iust defense against the violence and cruelties of the Spaniards their oppressours thereby staieng them from yeelding their subiection to anie other prince from the said king of Spaine and during the time of that our aid giuen to them and their staie in their obedience to the king of Spaine we did fréelie acquaint the same king with our actions and did still continue our fréendlie aduises to him to mooue him to command his gouernours and men of warre not line 10 to vse such insolent cruelties against his people as might make them to despaire of his fauours and séeke some other lord And in these kind of persuasions and actions we continued manie yéeres not onelie for compassion of the miserable state of the countries but of a naturall disposition to haue the ancient conditions of streict amitie and commerce for our kingdoms and people to continue with the states and the people of the said dukedome of Burgundie and the appendents line 20 and namelie with our next neighbours the countries of Flanders Holland and Zeland For we did manifestlie sée if the nation of Spaine should make a conquest of those countries as was and yet is apparantlie intended and plant themselues there as they haue doone in Naples and other countries adding thereto the late examples of the violent hostile enterprise of a power of Spaniards being sent within these few yeares by the king of Spaine and the pope into our realme of Ireland with an intent line 30 manifestlie confessed by the capteins that those numbers were sent aforehand to seize vpon some strength there to the intent with other great forces to pursue a conquest thereof we did we saie againe manifestlie see in what danger our selfe our countries and people might shortlie be if in conuenient time we did not speedilie otherwise regard to preuent or staie the same And yet notwithstanding our said often requests and aduises giuen to the king of Spaine manifestlie for his owne weale and honor line 40 we found him by his councell of Spaine so vnwilling in anie sort to incline to our fréendlie counsell that his gouernours and chéefeteins in his low countries increased their cruelties towards his owne afflicted people and his officers in Spaine offered dailie greater iniuries to ours resorting thither for traffike yea they of his councell in Spaine would not permit our expresse messenger with our letters to come to the king their masters presence a matter verie strange and against the law of line 50 nations And the cause of this our writing and sending to the king procéeded of matter that was worthie to be knowne to the king and not vnméet now also to be declared to the world to shew both our good disposition towards the king in imparting to him our gréefes and to let it appeare how euill we haue béene vsed by his ministers as in some part may appeare by this that followeth Although we could not haue line 60 these manie yeares past anie of our seruants whom we sent at sundrie times as our ambassadours to the king our good brother as was meet suffered to continue there without manie iniuries and indignities offered to their families and diuerse times to their owne persons by the greatest of his councellours so as they were constreined to leaue their places and some expelled and in a sort banished the countrie without cause giuen by them or notified to vs yet we minding
which doo reach to a faire chamber at the vpper end whereof on high was placâ—d a cloth of estate in the middest of which were the armes of England and against them my lord was seated on each side of him two steps descending line 40 sat twelue of the principall states below them sat the residue to the number of twentie right before my lord but foure or fiue steps descending On the right hand of my lord did stand the prince of Portugall next him the lord Morleie next master Norris gouernor of Munster next sir William Russell and sir Robert Germin with diuerse men of great account On the left hand of my lord did stand the Graue Morris next the earle of Essex sir William Stanleie sir Robert Stapleton and sir Thomas line 50 Parrat with diuers others of great account Thus being placed a Dutchman made a large oration in Dutch declaring the causes of the matter in hand with thanks to the quéenes maiestie and the lord lieutenant Then was read in Latine the couenants betwéene the states the queene and my lord this doone the couenants were deliuered to my lord which he deliuered to the states and the states deliuered an other to him then was my lord demanded to vow line 60 the same by oth who holding his hand to heauen did sweare to the couenants The like did the states holding vp their hands vow to performe Then againe were the states sworne to the queene and my lord hir lieutenant in those affaires This doone my lord gaue to them seuerall thanks and they seuerallie did giue to him the like which being doone my lord passed through to his chamber the trumpets all sounding before him And héere as matter of conueniencie requireth we purpose to touch the peremptorie authoritie committed to the said lord lieutenant by common consent of the states being as followeth in the placard A placard conteining the authoritie giuen by the states of the low countries vnto the mightie prince Robert earle of Leicester baron of Denbigh c for the gouernment of the said low countries translated out of Dutch into English as followeth THe generall states of the vnited prouinces of the low countries to all those which shall sée or heare these present writings health and dilection Euen as it hath pleased hir maiestie of England mercifullie to send ouer into these countries the high and mightie prince and lord lord Robert earle of Leicester baron of Denbigh and one of the priuie councell knight of the noble order of the garter and not onlie to admit and institute his excellencie as chéefe head aboue all militarie souldiers on horse or foot which hir maiestie hath sent or shall send ouer hereafter into these countries to the end to assist vs with counsell aid aduise according to his great experience policie and wisedome in the direction of publike affaires of the land as well touching the feates of warre as other waies in conseruation of all that which most tendeth to the profit of the foresaid land to bring backe and reduce the same into such good order and rule as it hath béene in times past to the end that so much the better and orderlie he maie resist the force and tyrannie of our enimies and to frustrate all his practises but also besides this to honour and inrich his foresaid excellencie with greater authoritie might and commandement aboue all hir maiesties admerals and viceadmerals and ships of war to command them all to emploie them to the seruice of these countries and in such order as his excellencie shall find néedfull for the same countrie and that his excellencie following hir maiesties commandement desirous to shew the effect of the good will and affection which he beareth to these affaires and to the preseruation of the same and also of the true christian religion and hath imploied himselfe so willinglie in the foresaid matters that his excellencie for that onlie cause hath left and abandoned his natiue countrie and goods and transported himselfe hitherward amongst vs so that hir maiestie and his excellencie could neuer haue doone or shewed vnto vs a greater benefit than this Therefore are we resolued with good and ripe deliberation to certifie all men by these presents that we haue desired accepted and authorised the foresaid mightie and honorable prince lord Robert earle of Leicester c to be our gouernor and generall captaine ouer all the vnited prouinces and associat cities and members of the same And we giue vnto his excellencie besides the authoritie of hir maiestie giuen vnto him the highest and supreme commandement and absolute authoritie aboue and in all matters of warfare by sea and by land to execute administrat the same to the resistance of the enimie euen as his excellencie shall thinke most commodious to the preseruation of these countries and so further to doo all such things as apperteine to the office of a generall capteine And furthermore we commit the administration vse of policie and iustice ouer the foresaid vnited prouinces and associat cities and members of the same into his hands to execute and administrat the same with such power and authoritie as haue had in times past all the other gouernors of these low countries before him and especiallie as haue béene exercised and lawfullie administred in the time of Charles the fift reserued onelie the lawes and priuileges of the foresaid countries also with especiall power to collect profits and receiue and administrat all the contributions which are agreed and condescended or shall hereafter be consented or agréed to the maintenance of the warres and also that which is or shall be deliuered hereafter into his excellencies hands and this all according to the vertue of other letters and missâ—ues written more at large touching the same agreement All which former charge and commission his excellencie through our earnest desire hath accepted and hath deliuered solemne oth and assurance into our hands first of all for the preseruation line 10 of the true christian religion and maintenance of the priuileges and rights of these lands and prouinces members and cities of the same We therefore ordeine and command all gouernors of prouinces and cities all admerals and viceadmerals all officers coroners capteins their officers and souldiors by sea and land and furthermore all other councellors officers treasurors receiuers bailiffs burgomaisters marshals magistrats gentlemen burgers other inhabitants subiects of line 20 these lâ—nds of what qualitie or condition soeuer that they euerie of them doo acknowledge his foresaid excellencie in the qualitie of gouernement and capteine generall ouer the foresaid vnited prouinces to honor respect and obeie him as they ought to doo without making anie difficultie in dooing the same vpon paine of falling in the displeasure and anger of his excellencie and to be punished according to the heauines of the fault and as reason shall require And to the end
subiects of that citie did reioise at the apprehension of certeine diuelish and wicked minded subiects of ours that through the great and singular goodnesse of God haue beene detected to haue most wickedlie and vnnaturallie conspired not onelie the taking awaie of our owne life but also to haue stirred vp as much as in them laie a generall rebellion throughout our whole realme we could not but by our owne letters witnesse vnto you the great and singular contentment we receiued vpon the knowledge thereof assuring you that we did not so much reioise at the escape of the intended attempt against our owne person as to see the great ioie our most louing subiects tooke at the apprehension of the contriuers thereof which to make their loue more apparant they haue as we are to our great comfort informed omitted no outward shew that by anie externall act might witnesse to the world the inward loue and dutifull affection they beare towards vs. And as we haue as great cause with all thankfulnesse to acknowledge Gods great goodnesse toward vs through the infinit blessings he laieth vpon vs as manie as euer prince had yea rather as euer creature had yet doo we not for anie worldlie blessing receiued from his diuine maiestie so greatlie acknowledge the same as in that it hath pleased him to incline the hearts of our subiects euen from the first beginning of our reigne to carie as great loue toward vs as euer subiects carried toward prince which ought to moue vs as it dooth in verie déed to séeke with all care by all good means that apperteine to a christian prince the conseruation of so louing and dutifull affected subiects assuring you that we desire no longer to liue than while we maie in the whole course of our gouernment carie our selues in such sort as may not onelie nourish and continue their loue and good will toward vs but also increase the same We thinke méet that these our letters should be communicated in some generall assemblie to our most louing subiects the commoners of that citie Giuen vnder our signet at our castell of Windsor the eightéenth daie of August one thousand fiue hundred foure score and six in the eight and twentith yeere of our reigne But leauing this princelie president of thankefulnes to perpetuall record we will touch the next occurrence as course of time ministreth occasion About this time of the yéere returned into England sir Francis Drake knight a man of rare knowlege in nauigation and verie fortunat in the euent of his enterprises after manie feats of good seruice accomplished in forren countries as at Baion Hispaniola S. Dominico Carthagena c to the admiration of all people amongst whom he came and contrarie to the expectation of the Spaniards who vpon supposall of places impregnable grew so confident that they séemed lightlie to estéeme anie purposed force of the enimie and therefore doubted no kind of annoiance Howbeit they were as safe as he that hangeth by the leaues of a trée in the end of autumne when as the leaues begin to fall For they were so terrified at the sight of sacke and spoile as also doubting a totall wast by fire and swoord that they were glad to yeeld to composition And heere because mention is made of Hispaniola note ye that it is supposed that Salomon king of Ierusalem had his great riches of gold from hense and that his ships sailed to Ophir the old name as some affirme of Hispaniola by the gulfe of Persia called Sinus Persicus As for Sancto Dominico it is the cheefe citie in Hispaniola reported in historie as touching the building that there is no citie in Spaine Tanto line 10 pro tantâ— no not Barsalona that is to be preferred before it generallie For the houses are for the most part of stone as are they of Barsalona or of so strong and well wâ—ought earth that it maketh a singular and strong binding But leauing description of places it shall not be amisse hauing now touched though not with conuenient dignitie the last voiage of this singular gentleman to annex in this place a memoriall of a former voiage by him attempted namelie on the thirtéenth line 20 daie of December in the yere of Christ one thousand fiue hundred seuentie seuen at what time accompanied with fiue tall ships well manned appointed he sailed into the wost Indies by the same aduenture most luckilie accomplished eternised his name At what time the king of Moluccaes admiring his order astonied at the hearing of the peales of English ordinance roring like thunder which he there at his arriuall valiantlie liberallie discharged receiued him right honorablie causing foure galliasses line 30 to conduct and bring his ship into the surest harborough and him selfe with his companie to his presence In this voiage he discouered a countrie erst vnknowne which he named Noua Albion where by his courteous dealing he so allured and woone the hearts of the inhabitants that twise they crowned him king Beyond the large countrie of Chilie where it hath beene heeretofore thought that nothing had beene but continent and firme land he found sundrie Ilands the furthest wherof lieng most south line 40 he called by hir maiesties name Elisabetha Now after manie a singular note of his incomparable valorousnesse exhibited in places where he came and purposing to make his aduenture profitable he neglected no meanes that might stand with his honestie and honor returning home into England with great riches the six and twentith of September in the yéere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and eightie with one ship onelie For of the fiue wherewith at his first setting foorth he was furnished he line 50 was forced to set two on fire the third perished the fourth came backe and went not forwards at the first A voiage of great aduenture and prosperous successe contrarie to the ackward and frowning hap of sundrie woorthie gentlemen whose attempts albeit honorable and commendable yet matched with misfortune or at least defectiue in deserued and hoped issue a sore dicouragement to gentlemen of trauell and not a little impeaching the art of nauigation line 60 And now to resume our former remembrance of the conspirators you shall vnderstand that after due examination had no rigor vsed either by torture or torment the wicked wretches guiltie consciences driuing them to voluntarie confession on the seuenth daie of September certeine of them were led from the Tower of London to Westminster by water where they were indicted first for intending treason against the queens owne person secondlie for stirring ciuill wars within the realme and thirdlie for practising to bring in forren power to inuade the land Seuen of them appeared at Westminster on the thirtéenth daie of September who all pleaded giltie and therefore had no iurie but were condemned and had iudgement on the next morrow On the fiftéenth daie of September other seuen
c. Executed note 944 a 50 b 10. ¶ Sée Conspirators Fugitiues Noblemen Sandwich and Traitors Recantation of certeine Anabaptists at Paules crosse 1260 b 50. Of Cranmer how detested of him at his death 1131 b 60. ¶ Sée Barnes and Crome Smith Sermon Reconciliation signified by kissing of the pax 78 a 10 Rées king of Wales slaine in battell 20 b 50 Rées ap Meridoc accused and executed 288 b 30 Reformation ought to be no priuat mans but the princes action 1051 b 20 60 Register for christening and burieng c in euerie church to be kept 945 a 40 Religion altered 1090 b 40 1123 b 30. Trouble persecutions for it 1127 a 20. Professors therof persecuted 1132 a 10. It goeth not by age but by truth 1143 a 60 Aduanced note 992 a 60. Beareth the blame is counted the cause of rebellion note 1054 a 10 20. Reformed in Edward the sixts daies 979 b 40 50 c. A booke touching the reformation thereof published 940 b 60. Laid open to great danger 256 a 50 A conference thereabouts with the clergie on both sides 1182 a 40 c 1183 a 10 c. Restored into the English toong 1172 a 10. Commissioners sent abrode to establish it 1184 b 50. None charged with capitall crimes being of a contrarie religion and professing to withstand forren forces 1360 b 30 50 1361 a 10 c. Of Rome established by act of parlement note 519 a 30. ¶ Sée Moonks Treason Religious houses giuen Henrie the eight in parlement 992 b 10. Giuen to Henrie the eight 939 b 40. Uisited 939 a 60. Henrie the eights promises for the well disposing of them 971 a 60. Suppressed 1184 b 60. ¶ Sée Abbeies Reliks ¶ Sée Becket Christ Hales Remes besieged 392 b 60. The citizens thereof saue their corne fields from destroieng by sending vittels to the English host 426 b 10 Remelie ¶ Sée bishop Remelius ¶ Sée Ramelius Remigius bishop of Dorchester depriued of his crosier ring 9 a 40. Remission of sins granted to as manie as would fight against Clement the antipape note 441 a 60 b 60 442 a 40 Rent for a mans owne lands by the yeare paied 8 a 40 Repentance of yoong king Henrie before his death his superstitious deuotion his death buriall 107 a 10. Of rash aduancement note 76 b 30. Of an act past 128 a 10 Of a déed doone not forséeing losses to insue 170 b 30. Too late 193 b 40 note 32 a 60 1104 a 30 517 50. Of William Rufus in his sicknesse note 20 a 50. Of duke William for his crueltie against the English 14 b 60. Despised of a desperat malefactor at his death 1061 a 60. Report that Richard ment to yéeld vp Calis to the French kings hands 462 a 10. False of Henrie the eights death 823 a 30. Occasion of rebellions 941 b 40. Of great disquietnesse 777 a 10. How hurtfull and troblesome 1006 b 10.47 b 50. In the starre-chamber against ladie Elisabeth 1102 a 10 40 Request granted vpon necessarie constraint 2 b 20. Of the commons denieng a subsidie 410 b 10. ¶ Sée Demands and Petitions Reuenge of the Londoners 338 b 50. Of the people for the death of one whome they fauoured 12 b 60. Against the dead bodie of duke William for iniurie past 15 a 50. Of the duke of Austrich vpon king Richard the first 136 a 10 20. Of king Iohn vpon the white moonks 162 a 40. Of Richard the first a bastard for the death of his father being a king note 160 b 60. Sought by the French king for the death of duke Arthur 167 a 60. Of sir Robert de Twing vpon the Romans 214 b 60. Of the lord Mortimer against the Welshmen 263 b 50. Of Edward the first vpon the Scots 312 a 40. Of duke William for the losse of his subiects 10 b 30 Of a bishop in a riotous maner 247 a 60. Of Henrie the third vpon the bishop of Elie 247 a 10 Of wrongs iniuries multiplied 170 a 10 20 Of iniuries 137 b 10. Of remembred grudge 1089 a 40. A notable example to forbere it note 1117 b 40. Of an old grudge note 636 b 10. Upon reuenge note 840 a 20 841 a 10 c. Counselled and pursued note 204 a 40 50 Of an old grudge 210 a 10 Interchangeable 204 b 10 For cuckoldrie 211 b 60. For wast 257 a 10. Noblie taken note 447 b 60. Upon reuenge 446 a 30. With murther 447 a 50. Neglected where it might haue béene executed note 459 b 30 40. Of murther with murther 368 a 50 Taken as occasion serued 340 a 30. Sought for murthering a bishop 12 b 20. Of almightie God vpon lasciuious disordered liuers note 424 a 10. ¶ Sée Enuie Malice and Murther Reseruations and prouisions apostolike 365 a 60 Resignation by compulsion recompensed 1134 b 40 Restitution of townes to king Edward the third by the French king 360 b 60 Rewards how they preuaile and worke with a wicked mind 747 b 30 40. Uerie large offered to the duke of Britaine to betraie the earle of Richmond into Richard the third his hands 747 a 60 b 10. Corrupt a kéeper of a prisoner 152 a 20. ¶ Sée Bribes Gifts Monie Rhods taken by Soliman Ottoman the Turke 876 b 10 c Rendered vp vnto him 877 a 10 20 Rice ap Thomas swereth fealtie and seruice to the earle of Richmond 753 b 40. ¶ Sée Rées Rich lord saileth into Ireland 1258 b 60 Richard the first crowned king of England 117 a 10. In armes against the French king 146 a 60. His bastard sonne Philips reuenge note 160 b 60. His practises to get monie 143 b 60. 144 a 10 20 Marieth the ladie Berengaria 128 a 40. His letter to the states of England for the deposing of the bishop of Elie 132 a 30. Like to haue béene deliuered into the French kings hands 140 a 10. He the French king in armes they talke togither the emperor disuadeth Richard from peace the war is renewed betwixt them they talke togither againe a peace conditionall concluded 148 all Offended with the bishop of Elie lord chancellor 145 b 30 He transporteth ouer into France 144 b 10 Crowned king anew 143 b 30. His grant of allowance to the king of Scots when he came to England 143 a 50. His commandement not obeied 140 b 50. Winneth Notingham castell 142 a 60. Released out of captiuitie 141 a 10. Returneth into England his triumphant receiuing into London 141 b 40 50. Raiseth his siege from Gisors 152 a 10. He and the earle of Tholouse agréed 151 b 30 His lands wasted by certeine Gascoignes 137 a 60. Setteth things to sale for his going to the holie land 120 a 40 His thrée daughters and how he bestowed them in mariage 156 b 20. Charged by the emperor with iniuries doone to the Sicilians 13◠b 20. His wisedome in making his answer 30. Cleared of the murthering of the marquesse of
consequent that rebels are seuerelie to be punished and that such punishment is good and necessarie Against 〈…〉 forâ—â—aring and 〈◊〉 a withall 〈◊〉 Rebels punishable with manie deaths Idlenesse and meat of other mens charge The force of pestilence following famine The plague pestilence occasioned by rebellion Rebels enimies murtherers of their countrie Further mischiefes of vncharitablenes issuing from rebellion The fruits of honest mens trauels long in gathering quickelie spoiled by rebellion An argument from equitie vpright dealing euen with the vniust Multitudes of vagabonds and roges procured by rebellions To what shifts soldiers fall after discamping and ceassing from warres Against loitering lubbers that can not awaie with labour A loiterer described The sight of manie flies in a yeare a naturall prognostication of a plague like to follow Disorder in euerie degrée caused by rebellion Magistrats disobeied and neglect of dutie in generall by rebellion Obseruing of order in euerie state supporteth a commonwealth contrariwise the hurt of disorder 〈◊〉 â—rgument 〈◊〉 â—rom 〈◊〉 A tâ—pâ—ie turâ—â— of all â—â—ings by rebâ—lâ—â—on The necessitie of order and â—â—erefore S. Paule said 〈◊〉 Let all things be 〈◊〉 in order Râ—bâ—ls are 〈◊〉 theâ—◠〈◊〉 profit Equalitie of â—â—â—tice â—ebels hâ—rt themselues The benefit of rebellion in one respect Reformation intended by rebels like sores cured by ill surgions Gréefes insuing to the rebels vpon this rebellion Reformation ought to be no priuat mans but the princes action What things in a well and iustlie doone matter ought well to be weighed The yoke that rebels wilfullie bring vpon themselues Desperat remedies for desperat diseases Rebels worthie to suffer extremitie of punishment The greatest shame that can come to a common-wealth Gentlemen more trustie bicause the commons be vntâ—ustie Martiall laâ— a burden vnsufferable Crueltie and extremitie shewed to the gentlemen by the rebels The kings best kind of gouernment The fruits of dissention The rebels had cause to beare with the gentlemen and to haue lâ—ued them All the parts of a common-wealth bâ— not of like worthinesse 〈◊〉 gentlemen more worâ—hie than yeomen c. 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 flowâ—â—g from this 〈◊〉 Outward mischances insuing vpon rebellions to the shame of the land and 〈◊〉 wherin they be raised King contemned Rulers little esteemed Subiects disordered The whole â—â—untrie ill spoken of Nothing 〈◊〉 by disorder â—â—ancâ—able Further outward hurt besides voice ingendereâ— of rebellions He meaneth the Scots French with whome we haue had alwaies incomberance Note in a few words of force the dangerous qualitie of rebellion A reason drawne from the lesse to the greater Rebellion maketh passage to forren inuasion â—eaâ—eneth our owne region Rebellion aâ—â—â—teth the papists each one beside that is offended at true religion Religion beareth the blame and is counted the cause of rebellion but amisse The diuels sophistrie Examples The Iewes ascribe their miserie to a false cause The heathens fond opinion of gods fauouring their crueltie against christians The 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 haue an 〈◊〉 opâ—nion of Gods 〈◊〉 truth The hurts issuing from rebellion out of count Concord and discord with their 〈◊〉 effects The mischiefs springing froÌ„ sedition Forren waâ— farre better than sedition at home The praise and benefits of peace The rebels 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 meanes 〈…〉 The state of a 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 in time of 〈◊〉 and tumult Reasons to withdraw the rebels from their enterprises of rebellion and to 〈◊〉 them to 〈◊〉 A conclusion pâ—â—emptorie against irreâ—uâ—able rebels 〈◊〉 â—l ex 〈…〉 Ad libellion vt Ioanni Checo Granâ—ano placeâ—e studeaâ— The French king purposed to surprise Gernesâ—ie and Ierseie but is repelled Iohn Fox The French king is ashamed that anie report should passe of his euill successe The French king perseuereth in his former purpose and martiall action Charles Sturton and George Willoughbie Les chroniques de Aquitaine The fort called Almaine campe wooâ—e The lord Greie The castell of Hambleteuue lost Hambleteuue summoned Hambleteuue rendered to the French king The French writers report of their owne countriemens crueltie and sauagenesse The number that came foorth of Hambleteune Causes that compelled the French king to breake vp his campe The kings generall pardon Abr. Fl. ex 〈◊〉 â—â—rrundam câ—â—â—ctanâ—is 〈◊〉 1043. The councell withdraw themselues 〈◊〉 priuat conferences about the lord protectors displacing The protector remooueth in hast with the king to Windsore line 60 Iohn Fox in the Acts and Monuments A letter of the lord protectors to the lord priuie 〈◊〉 The effect of the lord Russels letter answering the lord protector The contents of the second answer of the lord Russell to the lord protector The good lord Russell a solicitor for peace betwéene the lord protector and the lords The lords of the councell assembled against the lord protector The protectors letter to the lords No word hitherto sent from the lords to the lord protector what they required of him to doo The lords continue in their intended purpose against the lord protector A proclamation published against the lord protector Witnesses to the contents of the said proclamation 〈◊〉 kings 〈◊〉 read to 〈◊〉 â—â—â—izens The 〈…〉 enimie 〈◊〉 the lord 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stadâ—â—â— citizen of Lâ—â—don 〈◊〉 answer 〈◊〉 recorder 〈◊〉 London 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 â—hat it is to 〈◊〉 into the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 pleasure 〈◊〉 the prince The aduise 〈◊〉 George â—radlow Sir Philip 〈◊〉 sent to 〈◊〉 king by 〈◊〉 lords The lord protector committed to prison Abr. Fl. ex I. Stow. 1044. The lord protectour committed to the tower Abr. Fl. ex I â— 1044 1045. K. Edward rode through London Charitable déeds of sir Rowland Hill Fréeschole at Draiton in Shropshire 〈◊〉 gift to 〈…〉 â— parlement 〈◊〉 act for vnlawfull assemâ—â—â—s Aâ—r. Fl. ex I. Stow. 1045. States created Peter Gambo â—nd another capteine murthered Gauaro and 〈◊〉 hanged 1550 Anno Reg. 4. Sir Iohn Lutterell prisoner Erle of Warwike in highest authoritie Morguison the midwaie betwéene Bullen and Calis It is agréed among the lords to infâ—st and annoie the French Commissioners sent to treat of peace A peace concluded with France vpon certeine conditions Bullongne giuen vp to the French He entereth Abr. Fl. ex I. S pag. 1046. Nâ—w officers created of the nobilitie The liberties of Southworke purchased The duke of Summerset deliuered out of the tower A marriage to compose strife and establish amitie Rich. Grafton Rebellion in Kent executed Priests children legitimate Usurie forbidden Abr. Fl. ex I.S. pag. 1047 1048 Alderman of Southworke Terme adiourned S. Barnabâ—â—â— kept hâ—lâ—e High altar Paules pulled downe No watch 〈◊〉 Midsummer Earle of Southampton deceasâ—eâ— Charitable deeds of Andrew Iude. Fréeschoole 〈◊〉 Tunbridge Almes houses 1551 Anno Reg. 5. Arden murthered Arden dâ—scribed Loue and lust A paire of siluer dice worke much mischiefe Arden wiâ—keth at his wiues lâ—wâ—nesse 〈◊〉 Ardens wife aâ—tempteth 〈◊〉 to make awaie hiâ— husband Ardens is poisoned by his wife but recouereth She deuiseth another waie â—o dispatch hir â—usband Arden A notorious murthering
not as line 40 yours Well faire sonne said the king with a great sigh what right I had to it God knoweth Well said the prince if you die king I will haue the garland and trust to kéepe it with the sword against all mine enimies as you haue doone Then said the king I commit all to God and remember you to doo well With that he turned himselfe in his bed and shortlie after departed to God in a chamber of the abbats of Westminster called Ierusalem the twentith daie of March in the yeare 1413 and in the yeare of his age line 50 46 when he had reigned thirteene yeares fiue moneths and od daies in great perplexitie and little pleasure or fouretéene yeares as some haue noted who name not the disease whereof he died but refer it to sicknesse absolutelie whereby his time of departure did approach and fetch him out of the world as Ch. Okl. saith whose words may serue as a funerall epigramme in memoriall of the said king Henrie Henricus quartus bis septem rexerat annos Anglorum gentem summa cum laude amore line 60 I à mque senescenti fatalis terminus aeui Ingruerat morbus fatalem accerserat horam We find that he was taken with his last sickenesse while he was making his praiers at saint Edwards shrine there as it were to take his leaue and so to procéed foorth on his iournie he was so suddenlie and greeuouslie taken that such as were about him feared least he would haue died presentlie wherfore to reléeue him if it were possible they bare him into a chamber that was next at hand belonging to the abbat of Westminster where they laid him on a pallet before the fire and vsed all remedies to reuiue him At length he recouered his spéech and vnderstanding and perceiuing himselfe in a strange place which he knew not he willed to know if the chamber had anie particular name wherevnto answer was made that it was called Ierusalem Then said the king Lauds be giuen to the father of heauen for now I know that I shall die heere in this chamber according to the prophesie of me declared that I should depart this life in Ierusalem Whether this was true that so he spake as one that gaue too much credit to foolish prophesies vaine tales or whether it was fained as in such cases it commonlie happeneth we leaue it to the aduised reader to iudge His bodie with all funerall pompe was conueied vnto Canturburie and there solemnlie buried leauing behind him by the ladie Marie daughter to the lord Humfrie Bohun earle of Hereford and Northhampton Henrie prince of Wales Thomas duke of Clarence Iohn duke of Bedford Humfrie duke of Glocester Blanch duchesse of Bauier and Philip quéene of Denmarke by his last wife Iane he had no children This king was of a meane stature well proportioned and formallie compact quicke and liuelie and of a stout courage In his latter daies he shewed himselfe so gentle that he gat more loue amongst the nobles and people of this realme than he had purchased malice and euill will in the beginning But yet to speake a truth by his proceedings after he had atteined to the crowne what with such taxes tallages subsidies and exactions as he was constreined to charge the people with and what by punishing such as mooued with disdeine to see him vsurpe the crowne contrarie to the oth taken at his entring into this land vpon his returne from exile did at sundrie times rebell against him he wan himselfe more hatred than in all his life time if it had beene longer by manie yeares than it was had beene possible for him to haue weeded out remooued And yet doubtlesse woorthie were his subiects to tast of that bitter cup sithens they were so readie to ioine and clappe hands with him for the deposing of their rightfull and naturall prince king Richard whose chéefe fault rested onlie in that that he was too bountifull to his fréends and too mercifull to his foes speciallie if he had not béene drawne by others to séeke reuenge of those that abused his good and courteous nature ¶ But now to returne to the matter present The duke of Clarence immediatlie vpon knowlege had of his father king Henrie the fourth his death returned out of Guien into England with the earle of Angolesme and other prisoners Now will were hearse what writers of our English nation liued in the daies of this king That renowmed poet Geffrie Chaucer is woorthilie named as principall a man so exquisitlie learned in all sciences that his match was not lightlie found any where in those daies and for reducing our English toong to a perfect conformitie he hath excelled therein all other he departed this life about the yeare of our Lord 1402 as Bale gathereth but by other it appeareth that he deceassed the fiue and twentith of October in the yeare 1400 and lieth buried at Westminster in the south part of the great church there as by a monument erected by Nicholas Brigham it doth appeare Iohn Gower descended of that woorthie familie of the Gowers of Stitenham in Yorkeshire as Leland noteth studied not onelie the common lawes of this realme but also other kinds of literature and great knowledge in the same namelie in poeticall inuentions applieng his indeuor with Chaucer to garnish the English toong in bringing it from a rude vnperfectnesse vnto a more apt elegancie for whereas before those daies the learned vsed to write onelie in Latine or French and not in English our toong remained verie barren rude and vnperfect but now by the diligent industrie of Chaucer and Gower it was within a while greatlie amended so as it grew not onelie verie rich and plentifull in words but also so proper and apt to expresse that which the mind conceiued as anie other vsuall language Gower departed this life shortlie after the deceasse of his déere and louing freend Chaucer to wit in the yeare 1402 being then come to great age and blind for a certeine time before his death He was buried in the church of saint Marie Oueries in Southwarke line 10 Moreouer Hugh Legat borne in Hertfordshire and a monke of saint Albons wrote scholies vpon Architrenius of Iohn Hanuill and also vpon Boetius De consolatione Roger Alington chancellor of the vniuersitie of Oxford a great sophister an enimie to the doctrine of Wickliffe Iohn Botrell a logician Nicholas Gorham borne in a village of the same name in Hertfordshire a Dominike frier first proceeded master of art in Oxenford and after going to Paris became the French kings confessor and line 20 therefore hath béene of some taken to be a Frenchman Iohn Lilleshull so called of a monasterie in the west parties of this realme whereof he was gouernour Walter Disse so called of a towne in Norfolke where he was borne first a Carmelite frier professed in Norwich and after going to Cambridge he there
procéeded doctor he was also confessor to the duke of Lancaster and to his wife the duchesse Constance a great setter foorth of pope Urbans cause against the other popes that were by him line 30 and those of his faction named the antipapes Thomas Maldon so called of the towne of that name in Essex where he was borne Iohn Edo descended out of Wales by linage and borne in Herefordshire a Franciscane frier Adde to the forenamed Nicholas Fakingham borne in Norfolke a greie frier procéeded doctor in Oxenford a great diuine and an excellent philosopher prouinciall of his order here in England Laurence Holbecke a monke of Ramsie well séene in line 40 the Hebrue toong and wrote thereof a dictionarie Iohn Colton archbishop of Ardmach Iohn Marrie so called of a village in Yorkeshire where he was borne a Carmelite of Doncaster Richard Chefer borne in Norfolke a diuine and an Augustine frier in Norwich Iohn Lathburie a Franciscane frier of Reading Nicholas Poutz Richard Scroope brother to William Scroope lord treasuror of England studied in Cambridge and proceeded there doctor of both the lawes became an aduocat in the court line 50 of Rome and afterwards was aduanced to the gouernement of the see of Couentrie and Lichfield and at length was remooued from thence and made archbishop of Yorke he wrote an inuectiue against king Henrie and at length lost his head as before ye haue heard Iohn Wrotham a Carmelite frier of London and after made warden of an house of his order in Calis Furthermore Iohn Colbie a Carmelite frier of Norwich William Thorpe a northerne man borne line 60 and student in Oxenford an excellent diuine and an earnest follower of that famous clearke Iohn Wickliffe a notable preacher of the word and expressing his doctrine no lesse in trade of life than in speech he was at length apprehended by commandement of the archbishop of Canturburie Thomas Arundell and committed to prison in Saltwood castell where at length he died Stephan Patrington borne in Yorkeshire a frier Carmelite prouinciall of his order through England of which brood there were at that season 1500 within this land he was bishop of saint Dauids and confessor to king Henrie the fift about the fift yeare of whose reigne he deceassed Robert Mascall a Carmelite frier of Ludlow confessor also to the said K. who made him bishop of Hereford Reginald Langham a frier minor of Norwich Actonus Dominicanus Thomas Palmer warden of the Blacke friers within the citie of London Boston of Burie a monke of the abbeie of Burie in Suffolke wrote a catalog of all the writers of the church and other treatises Moreouer Thomas Peuerell a frier Carmelite borne in Suffolke he was aduanced to the see of Ossorie in Ireland by Richard the second and after by pope Boniface the ninth remooued to Landaffe in Wales and from thence called by Henrie the fourth with consent of pope Gregorie the twelfe to gouerne the sée of Worcester and so continued bishop of that citie vntill he ended his life in the yeare of our Lord 1418 which was about the sixt yeare of the reigne of king Henrie the fift Iohn Purueâ—e an excellent diuine procéeded master of art in Oxenford he was apprehended for such doctrine as he taught contrarie to the ordinances of the church of Rome and was at length compelled by Thomas Arundell archbishop of Canturburie to recant at Paules crosse seuen speciall articles he wrote diuerse treatises was the second time committed to prison in king Henrie the fift his daies by Henrie Chichleie that succeeded Arundell in gouernement of the church of Canturburie William Holme a greie frier and a good physician for curing diseases of the bodie whatsoeuer his physicke was for the soule he liued vntill Henrie the fift his daies and deceassed about the fourth yeare of his reigne Nicholas Baiard a blacke frier a doctor of diuinitie professed at Oxenford Thomas Rudburne archdeacon of Sudburie and bishop of saint Dauids in Wales succéeding after Stephan Patrington he wrote a chronicle and certeine epistles as Iohn Bale noteth Finallie and to conclude Nicholas Riston who being sore greeued in mind as diuerse other in those daies to consider what inconuenience redounded to the church by reason of the strife and bralling among the prelats for the acknowleging of a lawfull pope two or thrée still contending for that dignitie wrote a booke intituled De tollendo schismate Iohn Walter an excellent mathematician being first brought vp of a scholer in the college of Winchester and after studied at Oxenford Thomas of Newmarket taking that surname of the towne in Cambridgeshire where he was borne he for his worthinesse as was thought was made bishop of Careleill well séene both in other sciences and also in diuinitie William Auger a Franciscane frier of an house of that order in Bridgewater Peter Russell a graie frier and of his order the prouinciall héere in England Iohn Langton a Carmelite Robert Wanâ—ham a moonke of Cernelie in Dorsetshire wrote a booke in verse of the originall and signification of words William Norton a Franciscane frier of Couentrie Hugh Sueth a blacke frier and a great preacher Richard Folsham a moonke of Norwich Robert Wimbeldon a singular diuine and an excellent preacher as appeareth by the sermon which he made vpon this text Redde rationem villicationis tuae Thus farre Henrie Plantagenet sonne to Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster Henrie the fift prince of Wales sonne and heire to Henrie the fourth HEnrie prince of Wales son and heire to K. Henrie the fourth borne in Wales at Monmouth on the riuer of Wie after his father was departed tooke vpon him the regiment of this realme of England the twentith of March the morrow after proclamed king by the name of Henrie the fift in line 10 the yeare of the world 5375 after the birth of our sauiour by our account 1413 the third of the emperor Sigismund the thrée and thirtith of Charles the sixt French king and in the seuenth yeare of gouernance in Scotland vnder Robert brother to him that before entrance into his kingdome 1390 had Iohn to name which by deuise and order of the states was changed into Robert the third who at Rotsaie a towne in the Iland of Got 1406 deceassed by occasion thus As vpon hope in this gouernor to himselfe line 20 conceiued how to come to the crowne he at the castell of Falkland latelie had famisht his coosine Dauid the kings elder sonne and heire a dissolute yoong prince yet to his fathers excéeding sorrow at whose deceasse the father verie carefull and casting for the safegard of Iames his yoonger son and heire from Basse the rocke in a well appointed ship vnder charge of Henrie Saintcleere earle of Orkeneie into France to his old fréend king Charles for good education and safetie this yoong prince he sent who in the line 30 course whether for tempest or tendernes of stomach tooke